Gaming machine

ABSTRACT

A gaming machine includes: a cabinet; a display portion that is provided on the cabinet and displays information related to a game; an operation unit that is provided on the cabinet and allows a player to input operations for playing the game; and a plurality of light emitting units that are disposed in the cabinet, each of the light emitting units being arranged to emit light in a way that a quantity of light to be emitted toward the player is smaller than a quantity of light to be emitted toward other directions.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO THE RELATED APPLICATION(S)

The present application is based upon and claims priority from priorJapanese Patent Application No. 2006-161654, filed on Jun. 9, 2006, theentire content of which are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a gaming machine, such as a slotmachine, in which symbols aligned in a plurality of arrays are variablydisplayed.

BACKGROUND

Conventionally, there is known a gaming machine, such as a slot machine,which provides a game to a player by causing a reel (a variable displaydevice) arranged with a plurality of symbols thereon to rotate. As thevariable display device installed in such kind of gaming machines, thereare known a type that is provided with mechanical reels that actuallyrotates, and a type that is provided with a display device, such as anLCD panel and a CRT display, which displays an image of rotating reels(so-called video reels).

The gaming machine generally provides the game when a game medium(medals or coins) is inserted by the player and the player performs astart operation, as such by pressing a spin button. The gaming machinethen controls the variable display device to rotate a plurality ofreels, and controls the variable display device to stop the reels todisplay symbols to be aligned in a predetermined combination inaccordance with a result of an internal lottery. The gaming machine paysout a predetermined amount of game medium to the player in accordancewith the combination of the stopped symbols. An example of such gamingmachine is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,334,612.

Generally, the above described type of gaming machine is provided with alarge number of illumination devices for advertising the gaming machineitself to the nearby galleries and attracting the galleries to thegaming machine. Accordingly, the player facing the gaming machine andplaying the game is constantly exposed to an excessive illumination bythose illumination devices, causing the player under stress to befatigued while the player continues to play the game.

SUMMARY

One of objects of the present invention is to provide a gaming machinethat reduces stress of the player caused by the illumination.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a gamingmachine including: a cabinet; a display portion that is provided on thecabinet and displays information related to a game; an operation unitthat is provided on the cabinet and allows a player to input operationsfor playing the game; and a plurality of light emitting units that aredisposed in the cabinet, each of the light emitting units being arrangedto emit light in a way that a quantity of light to be emitted toward theplayer is smaller than a quantity of light to be emitted toward otherdirections.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided agaming machine including: a cabinet; a display portion that is providedon the cabinet and displays information related to a game; a pluralityof display devices that are provided within the display portion; anoperation unit that is provided on the cabinet and allows a player toinput operations for playing the game; and a plurality of light emittingunits that are disposed in the cabinet, each of the light emitting unitsbeing arranged to emit light in a way that a quantity of light to beemitted toward the player is smaller than a quantity of light to beemitted toward other directions. At least one of the light emittingunits includes: a recessed portion that is recessed rearward from afront face of the cabinet; and a light source that is disposed insidethe recessed portion. The light source is disposed at a position where aline connecting the light source and an edge of the recessed portionintersects with a line perpendicular to a screen of the display devicesat an acute angle.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a gamingmachine including: a cabinet; a display portion that is provided on thecabinet and displays information related to a game; a plurality ofdisplay devices that are provided within the display portion; anoperation unit that is provided on the cabinet and allows a player toinput operations for playing the game; a controller that operates to:control the display devices to variably display a plurality of symbolsfor a predetermined time period when a start command is input throughthe operation unit to start the game; and pay out an award to the playerin accordance with a combination of the symbols displayed stopped; and aplurality of light emitting units that are disposed in the cabinet, eachof the light emitting units being arranged to emit light in a way that aquantity of light to be emitted toward the player is smaller than aquantity of light to be emitted toward other directions. At least one ofthe light emitting units includes: a recessed portion that is recessedrearward from a front face of the cabinet; and a light source that isdisposed inside the recessed portion. The light source is disposed at aposition where a line connecting the light source and an edge of therecessed portion intersects with a line perpendicular to a screen of thedisplay devices at an acute angle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a gaming machineaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the gaming machine shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the gaming machine shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view along line IV-IV of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5A is an enlarged sectional view showing a reflecting face, andFIG. 5B is a plan view showing reflected light;

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a relationship between a player facing thegaming machine and surrounding galleries;

FIG. 7 is a front view showing the relationship between the playerfacing the gaming machine and the galleries;

FIG. 8 is a side view showing a state in which an upper front door (afirst door) is opened;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a state in which the upper frontdoor is opened;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a state in which a lower frontdoor (a second door) is opened;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged sectional view of a main portion of a boundaryportion between the upper front door and the lower front door;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of a main portion ofthe lower front door;

FIG. 13 is an enlarged perspective view showing a lower portion of thegaming machine;

FIG. 14 is a partially fractured side view of a front side of a lowerportion of a cabinet;

FIG. 15 is a side view showing a state in which the player is playingthe gaming machine, and a gallery is watching a slot game;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the gaming machine according to theembodiment.

FIG. 17 is an enlarged perspective view showing a right side of avariable display portion;

FIG. 18 is a sectional view taken along P-P line shown in FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 is an enlarged perspective view showing a right side of an upperdisplay portion;

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of the gaming machine to which a externaldisplay device is attached;

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of the external display device;

FIG. 22 is a sectional view taken along R-R line shown in FIG. 21;

FIG. 23 is an enlarged sectional view showing right and left sideportions of the external display device;

FIG. 24 is an enlarged side view showing a speaker in FIG. 2;

FIG. 25 is a sectional view taken along XXV-XXV line shown in FIG. 24;

FIG. 26 is an exploded perspective view of the speaker shown in FIG. 24;

FIG. 27 is a front view showing the speaker in a state in which a net isremoved;

FIG. 28 is a right side view showing a state in which the front door isopened;

FIG. 29 is a front view showing an arrangement of a speaker box, asubstrate and speaker lamps in the speaker;

FIG. 30 is an enlarged side view showing an inclined face and thespeaker lamps;

FIG. 31 is an enlarged sectional view showing the inclined face and thespeaker lamps;

FIG. 32 is a perspective view showing the speaker shown in FIG. 24 froma direction facing the inclined face;

FIG. 33 is a perspective view showing the speaker shown in FIG. 24 fromdiagonally behind the gaming machine;

FIG. 34 is an enlarged view showing a main portion of a top lamp of thegaming machine in FIG. 1;

FIG. 35 is a sectional view of the top lamp taken along line XXXV-XXXVshown in FIG. 34;

FIG. 36 is a front view of the top lamp shown in FIG. 34 with a coverplate omitted;

FIG. 37 is a sectional view of a strip-shaped lamp taken along lineXXXVII-XXXVII shown in FIG. 36;

FIG. 38 is a view showing the strip-shaped lamp of FIG. 36 visible tothe player;

FIG. 39 is a sectional view showing a strip-shaped lamp of a differentaspect;

FIG. 40 is a view showing a strip-shaped lamp of a different aspect;

FIG. 41 is a perspective view showing a gaming machine according toanother embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 42 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of a wholeof the gaming machine shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 43 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a light emittingunit shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 44 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of asubsidiary circuit board shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 45 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of a toppereffect producing device shown in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 46 is a flowchart showing a procedure of an effect process in thetopper effect producing device according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereafter, a detailed description will be given, while referring to thedrawings, of preferred embodiments of a gaming machine according to theinvention.

Overall Description of Gaming Machine

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a gaming machine 1 is configured as anupright-type slot machine to be installed in a game arcade such as acasino. The gaming machine 1 has a cabinet 3 for housing electrical ormechanical parts for performing a various gaming state. A displayportion 4 is provided for displaying game information based on a gameoperation of a player. The display portion 4 includes, for example, anupper display portion 4A, a middle display portion 4B and a lowerdisplay portion 4C, each of the display portions 4A to 4C is attached toa front surface of the vertically long cabinet 3.

The upper display portion 4A includes a liquid crystal panel fordisplaying a payout table, a display of game rules and a bonus game, andthe like during a game. The upper display portion 4A is inclined to betilted forward in order to improve a visibility for a player whose viewpoint is positioned approximately at a height of the middle displayportion 4B.

The middle display portion 4B is provided with a rotating symbol displaypanel on which the player constantly keeps a close watch, is atransparent liquid crystal panel fixed to an upper front door 6 of thecabinet 3. The middle display portion 4B is provided with fivetransparent display windows 7 to allow symbols arranged on fivemechanical reels disposed inside the cabinet 3 be seen therethrough bythe player.

A plurality of pay lines traversing the five display windows 7horizontally and diagonally are displayed on the middle display portion4B. In the middle display portion 4B, an animation effect is performedat the time of a winning or the like.

A payout amount display portion 8 and a credit amount display portion 9are provided in an upper portion of the middle display portion 4B. Themiddle display portion 4B is inclined in such a way that an upperportion tilts rearward, as the player, whose view point is positionedapproximately at the height of the middle display portion 4B, looksslightly down at it, whereby to allow the player to look at a screen ofthe middle display portion 4B from a comfortable position.

Although it is assumed in the embodiment that a variable display of thesymbols is performed with the mechanical reels installed on a rearsurface of the middle display portion 4B, it is also acceptable todisplay video reels on the middle display portion 4B, instead of themechanical reels. Also, a number of the mechanical reels is not limitedto five.

The lower display portion 4C includes a liquid crystal panel fordisplaying points recorded on a card or game points. A numeric valuedisplayed on the lower display portion 4C is based on a display resultof the middle display portion 4B, when symbols aligned on the middledisplay portion 4B and a “winning combination” is satisfied, the gamepoints displayed on the lower display portion 4C is added to based on abig bonus result. A ticket printer 14 is installed on a left side of thelower display portion 4C, and a card reader 15 is installed on a rightside of the lower display portion 4C.

An operation table 10 protruding forward from a front of the cabinet 3being disposed below the lower display portion 4C, operation buttons 11(for example, a BET button, a COLLECT button, a START button, a STOPbutton and the like) serving as an operation unit for the player toperform an operation of the game are arranged on the operation table 10.Furthermore, a coin slot 12 and a bill slot 13 are provided on theoperation table 10.

A belly panel 17 is disposed below the operation table 10. The bellypanel 17 is a plastic panel on which an image relating to the game isprinted. The belly panel 17, as well as being fixed to a lower frontdoor 18, is lit up by a cold-cathode tube. A coin tray 19 for collectingcoins paid out based on a game result is disposed below the belly panel17.

Illumination

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a plurality of light emitting units 20 arearranged to surround a game area S. As shown in FIG. 2, the game area Sis defined on the cabinet 3 as an area including the operation buttons11 (operation unit) arranged on the operation table 10 and the displayportion 4 that includes the upper display portion 4A, the middle displayportion 4B and the lower display portion 4C.

As shown in FIG. 7, the player is positioned in such a way that the viewpoint of the player is positioned approximately at the height of themiddle display portion 4B. The position of the player is also in anapproximate center of the game area S, which is an area on which theplayer focuses most closely.

The light emitting units 20 includes side lamps 22, speaker lamps 24,under lamps 25, and a top lamp 26. The side lamps 22 are provided oninclined portions 21 to protrude bow-like from both right and left endportions on the front of the cabinet 3 and on sides thereof across theupper display portion 4A, the middle display portion 4B and the lowerdisplay portion 4C. The speaker lamps 24 are provided on bow shapedspeakers 23 protruding laterally from both right and left end portionsof the cabinet 3 in a vicinity of the operation table 10. The speakerlamps are arranged along edges of the speakers 23. The under lamps 25are provided on the lower front door 18 and arranged along a lower edgeof the belly panel 17. The top lamp 26 is provided above the upperdisplay portion 4A. The light emitting units 20 create an attractiveillumination by a light emitting control.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the right and left inclined portions 21 areinclined toward the display portions 4A and 4B as they are distant frontsurfaces 4 a and 4 b (refer to FIG. 1) of the display portions 4A and4B. The inclined portions 21 are each configured of an inclined face 21a and a thick frame 21 c, and a chrome-plated reflecting face 21 b beingprovided in a center of the inclined face 21 a. The inclined face 21 a,on which subsidiary side lamps 22 b are disposed, is textured.

On an outer edge of each inclined portion 21, the bow shaped thick frame21 c, of which a central portion swells outward, extends in an verticaldirection and, as well as having a semicircular cross-section, ischrome-plated. Eight main side lamps 22 a are arranged in the verticaldirection on each reflecting face 21 b. The main side lamps 22 a serveas light emitting units which decrease in size gradually toward a bottomor a top from a center. In the side lamps 22, the subsidiary side lamps22 b, being arranged in the vertical direction above and below the mainside lamps 22 a, are linearly arranged in such a way as to beapproximately continuous with the main side lamps 22 a.

As described above, the gaming machine 1 includes the cabinet 3 havingthe display portion 4 that displays information relating to the game,and the operation buttons 11 that serves as the operation unit thatallows the player to input operations for playing the game. The lightemitting units 20 are disposed in such a way as to surround the gamearea S including the display portion 4 and the operation unit 11.

As the light emitting units 20 are disposed in such a way as to surroundthe game area S including the display portion 4 and the operation unit11, it becomes possible to cause the gaming machine 1 itself to emitlight in such a way as to surround the game area S, so that the gamemachine 1 itself becomes attractive to surrounding galleries.Simultaneously, as the display portion, on which details of a gameactually being played are displayed, and the operation unit, with whichit is possible to confirm an operation procedure, method and rules of agame the player plays, are places of deepest concern to the surroundinggalleries, there is an advantage of heightening a degree of focusing onthe game area S including these kinds of display portion and operationunit. For example, the galleries observe the game from positions such asthose shown in FIG. 7.

Also, some of the light emitting units 20 are disposed on the inclinedfaces 21 a inclined toward the display portions 4A and 4B as they aredistanced from the front surfaces 4 a and 4 b (refer to FIG. 1) of thedisplay portions 4A and 4B. As the inclined portion 21 disposed at aplayer's right hand approximately faces a gallery diagonally behind theplayer to the left, and the inclined portion 21 disposed at a player'sleft hand approximately faces a gallery diagonally behind the player tothe right, as shown in FIG. 6, it is easy for these kinds of inclinedface 21 a, which also approximately face the galleries diagonally behindthe player, to become visible to the relevant galleries and, the gamemachine 1 itself becomes attractive by means of light from the lamps 22a and 22 b disposed on the inclined faces 21 a, and it is possible toobtain an advantage of attracting a large number of galleries to thegame machine 1.

As shown in FIG. 6, by inclining the light emitting units 20 on theinclined faces 21 a by an angle α, it being possible to cause the lightto face a gallery in other than a facing area, particularly a gallerydiagonally behind the player, it is easy for a gallery who has noticedthe light to be guided to the display portions 4A and 4B. The angle α ispreferably about 30 to 60 degrees.

Also, the inclined portions 21 protrude from the side portions of thecabinet 3. As a result, it being possible to make the game machine 1itself look larger by an amount equivalent to widths C1 of the inclinedportions 21, a distinctive cabinet 3 is created and, as it is possibleto secure a wide effective installation area of the light emitting units20 performing an attractive advertisement to the galleries, as well asit becoming possible to improve a degree of attraction of the galleriesto the gaming machine 1, it is possible to make effective use of a spacebetween gaming machines installed at regular intervals for an openingand closing operation of the front doors 6 and 17.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 5A, the main side lamps 22 a arranged onthe inclined portions 21 are each configured of a light emitting source29 having an LED, and a funnel-shaped reflecting face 27 surrounding thelight emitting source 29. With this kind of configuration, as lightemitted from the LED 29 is reflected by the funnel-shaped reflectingface 27 surrounding the LED 29, it becomes possible to make a diameterD2 of apparent light look larger than a diameter D1 of the actual lightemitted from the LED 29 and, as well as it being possible to improve thedegree of attraction, even in a case in which a quantity of light fromthe LED 29 has been suppressed, it is possible to make the diameter D2look larger than the diameter D1 of the actual light emitted from theLED 29, so it is possible to reduce the diameter D2 by that amount,meaning that an energy-saving advantage can also be obtained.Furthermore, in a vicinity of the game area S, as the reflecting face 27is formed in the funnel shape, the light emitting source 29 is disposeda distance C4 to a rear of a reflecting portion, so, without the lightemitted from the lamps 22 a becoming directly visible to the player, itis possible to reduce a strain on and a fatigue of the player's eyes.

The reflecting face 27 is formed to have a plurality of stepped faces 27c having different depth. The light from the LED 29 is reflected forward(in an arrowed direction in the figure) by inclined faces 27 a formingthe funnel shape within the reflecting face 27, while the light is notreflected by a stepped faces 27 b parallel to a bottom face 27 c onwhich the LED 29 is installed. Consequently, as it is possible toproduce ring-shaped shadowed portions within the reflecting face 27, anumber of ring beams of light corresponding to a number of steps isgenerated as shown in FIG. 5B. Accordingly, it being possible to imparta decorative element to the light, and it is possible to improve thedegree of attraction of the surrounding galleries. Furthermore, as thelight has the shadowed portions, it being possible to reduce a quantityof light visible to the player, it is possible to reduce the strain onand the fatigue of the player's eyes.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 2, the speaker lamps 24 installed on sidesurfaces of the cabinet, although installed a predetermined distancerearward from the front surface of the cabinet 3, are linearly arrangedin such a way as to be visually approximately continuous with thesubsidiary side lamps 22 b and the under lamps 25. As the speaker lamps24 are arranged along edges of speaker cabinets 23, it is possible tofurther accentuate the speaker cabinets 23 protruding laterally from thecabinet 3, and the side surfaces of the cabinet 3.

Furthermore, the under lamps 25 are linearly arranged in such a way asto be visually approximately continuous with the speaker lamps 24. Thebelly panel 4C is accentuated by the under lamps 25.

The top lamp 26 is configured by power lamps 26 a disposed on both sidesand a strip-shaped lamp 26 b arranged in a center in a horizontaldirection. Each of the power lamps 26 a generates very strong light bymeans of a fisheye lens, and the strip-shaped lamp 26 b generateshorizontally long light by arranging LED's horizontally. The thusconfigured top lamps 26 are linearly arranged in such a way as to bevisually approximately continuous with the subsidiary side lamps 22 b.

A controller 28 (refer to FIG. 3) is disposed in the cabinet 3. Thecontroller 28 controls the light emitting units 20 to blink. The lamps22 a, 22 b, 24, 25, 26 a and 26 b controlled by the controller 28 arelinearly arranged. Accordingly, as it is possible to create moving lightsuch as a flowing light illumination, the degree of attraction of thegalleries to the gaming machine 1 is further improved. Also, forexample, even in the event that the speaker cabinets 23 provided withsome of the light emitting units 20, not being in plane with the frontdoors 6 and 17, the display portion 4 or the like, are withdrawnrearward, in the event that an unevenness exists in a place installedwith the light emitting units 20, or in the event that the lightemitting units 20 are not equally spaced, as a frame such as fringes thegame area S can be dramatized by the light, it becomes easier for thegalleries, or a gallery who is about to start the game, to identify agame area S worthy of notice.

Intervals P1 between the side lamps 22 disposed lateral to the displayportion 4 are narrower than intervals P2 between the speaker lamps 24and under lamps 25 disposed lateral to and below the operation buttons11. With regard to the side lamps 22 disposed at the first intervals P1and the speaker lamps 24 and under lamps 25 disposed at the secondintervals P2, in a case of performing an execution of an identicalblinking time control by means of the controller 28 in order to createthe flowing light, as the second intervals P2 are set wider than thefirst intervals P1, a flow speed of beams of light arranged at the firstintervals P1 can be made to look slower than a flow speed of beams oflight arranged at the second intervals P2. Consequently, as a lightflowing speed becomes slow on a periphery of the display portion mostworthy of notice in the game area S on which the player and thegalleries focus, it is possible to heighten a degree of focusing on thedisplay portion 4 in the game area S. Herein, as long as the intervalsP2 are set wider than the intervals P1, it is not necessary that theintervals P1 of the main side lamps 22 a are identical to the intervalsP2 of the subsidiary side lamps 22 b, and it is not necessary eitherthat the intervals P2 of the under lamps 25 are identical to theintervals P2 of the speaker lamps 24.

Front Doors

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the gaming machine 1 includes the upper frontdoor (a first door) 6 provided with the middle display portion 4B andthe operation table 10, and the lower front door (a second door) 18provided with the belly panel 17 and the coin tray 19. The upper frontdoor 6 and the lower front door 18 open laterally, which provides anopening and closing operability, and the upper front door 6, as well asbeing provided on the front surface of the cabinet 3, is supported on aleft side of the cabinet 3 via a hinge 40. As the upper front door 6 isconnected by the hinge 40 to a left end of the cabinet 3, of which thefront surface is inclined in such a way as to tilt rearward, the upperfront door 6, when opened 90 degrees or more, can be opened in such away that a right side is lifted up.

When the upper front door 6 is opened, the lower front door 18 alsopivots along with the upper front door 6, and a large opening 41 appearsin the front surface of the cabinet 3. By opening the upper front door6, it is possible to perform maintenance of the mechanical reels 42 anda wiring inside the cabinet 3, and it is possible to expose a collectionbox 43 installed inside the cabinet 3. The collection box 43 is used forcollecting bills inserted from the bill slot 13. Also, the opening 41also being furnished with a coin hopper (not shown) in which coinsinserted from the coin slot are accumulated, the coins pass through achute 47 as necessary and, after passing through a coin tray chute 19 adisposed on a right side as seen from a rear surface 18 a of the lowerfront door 18, are paid out into the coin tray 19.

Furthermore, the middle display portion 4B is fixed to an upper portionof the upper front door 6, and a partition plate 6 a is provided in alower portion of the upper front door 6. A rectangular window 6 b,through which an operator is allowed to access a cover 43 a of thecollection box 43, is provided on a right side of the partition plate 6a. The operator can see the collection box 43 from outside via thewindow 6 b.

As shown in FIG. 10, the lower front door (the second door) 18 foropening and closing a part of the upper front door 6 is provided in afront lower portion of the upper front door 6. A left end of the lowerfront door 18 is supported on a front of a left end of the upper frontdoor (the first door) 6 via a hinge 45. By opening the lower front door18, a rectangular opening 46 appears and, the partition plate 6 a of theupper front door 6 being disposed to a rear of the opening 46, the coinpassing chute 47 for paying out the coins into the coin tray 19 is fixedto the partition plate 6 a. Furthermore, the operator can unlock thecover 43 a of the collection box 43 through the rectangular window 6 bprovided in the partition plate 6 a. After the unlocking, by pulling thecover 43 a down and forward, the operator can collect the bills in thecollection box 43 via the window 6 b.

As described, the coin tray 19 is fixed to a front lower end of thelower front door 18, which is mainly used for the bill collection or thelike. The coin tray 19 extending over an approximately whole width ofthe lower front door 18, the coins paid out from the heretoforedescribed coin hopper (not shown) disposed to the rear of the opening 41pass through the chute 47 and, after passing through the coin tray chute19 a disposed on the right side as seen from the rear surface 18 a ofthe lower front door 18, are accumulated in the coin tray 19.

In a case in which the coins are accumulated beyond an upper end of thecoin tray 19, in the event that a maintenance of the gaming machine 1 oran operation of taking the bills out of the collection box 43 inside thegaming machine 1 is necessary, as shown in FIG. 8, even though the upperfront door 6 or the lower front door 18 is opened, as the tray 19 isinstalled on the lower front door (the second door) 18, it is possibleto smoothly open the upper front door 6 or the lower front door 18.

Also, even in a state in which the upper front door 6 or the lower frontdoor 18 is opened, as the coin tray 19 is no longer in contact with theoperator, the coin tray 19 not being an impediment to the operation inthe cabinet 3, an operation effectiveness is improved. The coin tray 19is one in which are accumulated not only the coins but also game media,such as medals, tokens, tickets or the like, paid out from the cabinet3, or in which are placed belongings (for example, cigarettes, a handbagor the like) which belong to the player.

As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, a reinforcing member 50 created by abending formation is provided at a lower end of the partition plate 6 afixed to the upper front door 6. The reinforcing member 50 is connectedin such a way as to span both side portions 51 a of a frame 51 formed ona peripheral edge of the rectangular opening 46 which appears when thelower front door 18 is opened. An upper end of the reinforcing member 50is fixed by welding to the lower end of the partition plate 6 a of whicha peripheral edge is fixed to the frame 51. Also, by the reinforcingmember 50 being provided, as it is possible to stabilize the frame 51 ofthe upper front door 6, it is possible to reduce a distortion of theframe 51.

As the reinforcing member 50 is formed bending along bending lines 52 ato 52 d extending in a spanning direction, it is possible to achieve arigidity of the reinforcing member 50 with a simple configuration.Specifically, the reinforcing member 50, as well as being bent into anS-shape along the first to fourth bending lines 52 a to 52 d, isconfigured of a first plate piece 50 a extending in an approximatelyhorizontal direction, a second plate piece 50 b bent in such a way as tostand approximately upright at a front end of the first plate piece 50a, a third plate piece 50 c bent inward from an upper end of the secondplate piece 50 b and extending in the approximately horizontaldirection, a fourth plate piece 50 d bent approximately upright at arear end of the third plate piece 50 c, and a fifth plate piece 50 ebent outward from an upper end of the fourth plate piece 50 d andextending in the approximately horizontal direction.

The first plate piece 50 a positioned on a lower end side is fixed bywelding to a back plate 53 of which both ends are fixed to the frame 51,and a leading end of the fifth plate piece 50 e positioned on an upperend side is fixed by welding to the lower end of the partition plate 6a. The bending formation extending in the spanning direction is notlimited to the heretofore described one. It is sufficient that thereinforcing member 50 is formed bending at least once.

On the rear surface 18 a of the lower front door (the second door) 18, acounter 55, protruding toward the opening 46 and extending in thehorizontal direction, for counting the coins inserted from the coin slot12, is provided above a roller 57. Then, a front end of the counter 55,when the lower front door 18 is in a closed state, enters an inside of arecessed portion 56 formed in a squared U-shape cross-section by thethird plate piece 50 c, the fourth plate piece 50 d and the fifth platepiece 50 e. Accordingly, even in the event that a wire is inserted froma bottom gap 58 between the upper front door 6 and the lower front door18, as it is stopped by the counter 55, it being possible to stop anintrusion of the wire, it is possible to prevent a dishonest behavior ofopening the doors with malicious intent and so on. Furthermore, as theroller 57 to be described hereafter is supported by the counter 55, whenthe lower front door 18 is in the closed state, it is possible toincrease strength with respect also to a weight of the coin tray 19 andthe lower front door 18.

Also, the fifth plate piece (an interruption portion) 50 e bent towardthe lower front door (the second door) 18 from the fourth plate piece 50d is provided at the upper end of the reinforcing member 50. By means ofthe interruption portion 50 e, even in the event that the wire or thelike is inserted from the gap 58, as the further intrusion of the wireis stopped, it is possible to prevent the dishonest behavior of openingthe doors with malicious intent.

The second plate piece (a blocking portion) 50 b extending in thespanning direction, being provided in a lower portion of the reinforcingmember 50, is disposed in such a way as to make contact with the backplate 53. By means of the blocking portion 50 b, even in the event thatthe wire or the like is inserted from the gap 58, as the furtherintrusion of the wire is stopped, it is possible to prevent thedishonest behavior of opening the doors with malicious intent and so on.Furthermore, as the first plate piece 50 a is bonded to a lower portion53 b of the back plate 53, it being possible to stop the intrusion ofthe wire, it is possible to further strengthen a countermeasure to thedishonest behavior.

A tongue piece 53 a extending in such a way as to overlap a bottomsurface 18 b of the lower front door 18 is provided at a lower end ofthe back plate 53. By means of the tongue piece 53 a, even in the eventthat the wire or the like is inserted from the gap 58, as the furtherintrusion of the wire is stopped, it is possible to prevent thedishonest behavior of opening the doors with malicious intent and so on.

The roller 57, which serves as a protrusion, is attached to a left endof the counter 55, of which a lower end is spaced a predetermineddistance apart from an upper end of the reinforcing member 50, in such away as to be mounted on the reinforcing member 50 provided in a lowerportion of the frame 51 on the peripheral edge of the opening 46 of theupper front door (the first door) 6, on a rear side of the lower frontdoor (the second door) 18. Also, the roller 57 is positioned on an upperend side on a rear side of the coin tray 19 provided in a lower portionof the lower front door 18.

Therefore, when the lower front door 18 is in the closed position, theroller 57 is supported on the third plate piece 50 c of the reinforcingmember 50. Consequently, it is possible to disperse the weight of thecoin tray 19 and the lower front door 18, and a load in a case in whichthe coins or the like are contained in the coin tray 19. Furthermore, byadopting the rotatable roller 57, as wear is reduced, it is possible tosmoothly perform the opening and closing operation of the lower frontdoor 18.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 12, the upper front door 6 is disposedinclined rearward, the belly panel (an effect portion) 17 is provided ona front surface of the lower front door 18, and an upper portion of thelower front door 18 protrudes forward of the upper front door 6. As theupper front door 6 is disposed inclined rearward, even when the upperfront door 6 is opened, by means of the weight of the upper front door6, it is possible to prevent a situation in which the upper front door 6is abruptly fully opened. Furthermore, as the upper portion of the lowerfront door 18 protrudes forward of the upper front door 6, bypositioning the lower front door 18 perpendicular to a cabinet bottomsurface, as it is possible to make the belly panel 17, on which effectdetails are displayed, approximately perpendicular to the horizontaldirection, it being possible to make the effect details on the bellypanel 17 easily viewable even to a remote gallery, it is possible tosecure a housing space on a rear surface of the lower front door 18.

The belly panel 17 on which the effect details are displayed is lit bylight emitting means (for example, the cold-cathode tube, a fluorescentlamp, an LED lamp or the like) 103 disposed on the rear surface of thelower front door 18. The housing space provided on the rear surface ofthe lower front door 18, formed by protruding the upper portion of thelower front door 18 forward of the lower portion thereof, can be used asa radiation space of the cold cathode tube 103. It is also acceptablethat the belly panel 17 on which the effect details are displayed is aliquid crystal panel or the like.

Operation Table, Belly Panel and Under Lamps

As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the operation table (a protruding portion)10, being disposed on a front surface 3 a of the cabinet 3, protrudesforward. An upper surface of the operation table 10, being inclined insuch a way that a player P (refer to FIG. 15) side is lower than acabinet 3 side, is designed in such a way that it is easy for the playerP to put a hand on it and lean. Furthermore, on the operation table 10,the various operation buttons 11 are arranged as the operation unitinstructing an execution of the game, and furthermore, the coin slot 12and the bill slot 13 are provided.

An under display portion 100 is provided below the operation table 10 ofthe cabinet 3. The under display portion 100, being in a position setback from a front end 10 a of the operation table 10, is configured of aframe 101 surrounding the belly panel 17 along an outer edge of thebelly panel 17, a plurality of the under lamps (the light emittingunits) 25 fixed to the frame 101 along the lower edge of the belly panel17, and the fluorescent lamp 103 radiating light toward the belly panel17 from a rear side of the belly panel 17.

The belly panel 17 is formed of a film, on which an image such as a logoshowing an appellation of the gaming machine 1, a character or the likeis displayed, and a transparent acrylic plate being layered. The bellypanel 17, being disposed at a lower front of the cabinet 3, ispositioned between a fluorescent lamp box 104 provided inside thecabinet 3 and the frame 101. A pair of right and left fluorescent lampsockets is fixed to the fluorescent lamp box 104, and pins of thefluorescent lamp 103 are inserted in the fluorescent lamp sockets. Lightemitted from the fluorescent lamp 103 is transmitted through the bellypanel 17, highlighting an image such as the logo, the character or thelike. As a result, it becoming easy for the image displayed on the bellypanel 17 become visible to a gallery A watching a slot game fromdiagonally behind the player P, the gaming machine 1 is distinguishedfrom another machine, improving the degree of advertising.

An inner side of the frame 101 close to the belly panel 17 is slightlymore protuberant than an outer side thereof. The lower edge of the bellypanel 17 curves gently, and a lower portion of the frame 101 also curvesfollowing a shape of the belly panel 17. In the lower portion, as wellas on the inner side of the frame 101, the under lamps 25 are disposedalong the lower edge of the belly panel 17. The under lamps 25, beingfull color LED's in which unitary LED elements capable of emitting lightof three primary colors (red, blue and green) are combined, are fixedonto an LED substrate mounted with an LED drive circuit. The tray 19accumulates the coins (the game media) that are paid out based on aresult of the slot game, and is provided below the under lamps 25. Theunder lamps 25 illuminates the belly panel 17 from below and illuminatesthe tray 19 from above.

The under lamps 25 and the operation table 10 are disposed in such a waythat an extended line L1 of a straight line connecting the under lamps25 and the front end 10 a of the operation table 10 forms an acute angleα with respect to a perpendicular line L2 from the middle displayportion 4B passing through a center CP of the middle display portion 4B,as seen from a side of the cabinet 3.

As the player P plays the slot game focusing most closely on the middledisplay portion 4B, which displays an execution state of the slot game,an arrangement of the middle display portion 4B is determined inconsideration of a sight line of the player P. As shown in FIG. 15, bydisposing the under lamps 25 and the operation table 10 in theheretofore described way based on the arrangement of the middle displayportion 4B, a part of the light emitted from the under lamps 25 towardthe player P, being shielded by the operation table 10, becomes unlikelyto reach the player P's eyes.

According to the gaming machine 1, by causing the under lamps 25 toflash, or emitting light of various colors, it is possible to advertisethe gaming machine 1 to the gallery A diagonally behind the player P.Furthermore, even though the light is emitted from the under lamps 25 soas to advertise to the gallery A, as a part of the light is shielded bythe operation table 10, it is unlikely to reach the player P's eyes. Asa result, it being possible to balance the advertising to the player Aby the light from the under lamps 25 with a reduction in the fatigue ofthe player P's eyes, it is possible to, while attracting the gallery A,allow the player P to concentrate on the game without imposing anexcessive strain on the player P.

Furthermore, as the player P can perform an operation of the slot gamewhile putting a hand on the operation table 10, even in the event thathe or she plays the slot game in the same position for a long time, itis possible to reduce a physical fatigue of the player P during the slotgame.

Furthermore, the under lamps 25 are disposed along the lower edge of thebelly panel 17 in such a way as to light up the belly panel 17 (refer toFIGS. 13 and 14). As a result, the belly panel 17, as it is lit by thelight emitted from the under lamps 25, becomes easily spotted by thegallery A. As a result, the attraction of the gallery A by means of thebelly panel 17 is improved.

Furthermore, in the event that the arrangement of the middle displayportion 4B displaying the game details is determined, it is possible toeasily determine an arrangement relationship between the under lamps 25and the operation table 10, and a dimension of the operation table 10protruding forward from the cabinet 3. As a result, it is also possibleto easily apply the arrangement and the dimension to other variousmodels of gaming machines.

Furthermore, as the under lamps 25 are disposed above the tray 19, it ispossible to increase a quantity of light around the tray 19.

Indirect Illumination

As shown in FIGS. 16 to 18, the middle display portion 4B includes theliquid crystal panel, and a rectangular peripheral frame 110 is fixed toa peripheral edge of the middle display portion 4B. The peripheral frame110 is configured of a front light shielding plate 113, made of a resin,which is looped along a front surface FP2 of the middle display portion4B, side light shielding plates 114, extending in the vertical directionalong side edges of the front light shielding plate 113, which are fixedto right and left side portions of the front light shielding plate 113,and an acrylic transparent plate 115 adhering to a rear of each sidelight shielding plate 114. Two side light shielding plates 114, beingperpendicular to the front light shielding plate 113, are each formedwith notch holes HL, notched on a rear, arranged in the verticaldirection. The transparent plate 115 has a flat outer surface 115 a incontact with the side light shielding plate 114 and a corrugated innersurface 115 b.

A bracket 117 extending in the vertical direction is provided on a rearside of the front light shielding plate 113, and an LED substrate 119extending in the vertical direction in such a way as to face eachtransparent plate 115 is fixed to the bracket 117. The LED substrate119, as well as being mounted with an LED drive circuit, is mounted witha plurality of full color LED's 121 in a longitudinal direction. Thefull color LED's 121 are configured by combining unitary LED elementscapable of emitting light of three primary colors (red, blue and green).A part of the light emitted from the full color LED's 121 is shielded bythe front light shielding plate 113 and the side light shielding plates114, while the other light, after being refracted by the corrugatedinner surfaces 115 b of the transparent plates 115, is transmittedthrough the transparent plates 115, furthermore, passes through thenotch holes HL, and is radiated toward sides of the peripheral frame110.

As shown in FIG. 19, the upper display portion 4A is also the liquidcrystal panel in the same way as the middle display portion 4B, and arectangular peripheral frame 123 is also fixed to a peripheral edge ofthe upper display portion 4A. An LED substrate 127 mounted with aplurality of full color LED's (a light emitting unit) 125 is disposedinside the peripheral frame 123. In the same way as the peripheral frame110 surrounding the peripheral edge of the middle display portion 4B,the peripheral frame 123 having a front light shielding plate 128, sidelight shielding plates 130 and transparent plates 129, a part of lightemitted from the full color LED's 125 is shielded by the front lightshielding plate 128 and the side light shielding plates 130, and theother light, after being transmitted through the transparent plate 129,passes through notch holes HL, and is radiated toward sides of theperipheral frame 123.

As shown in FIGS. 16 to 19, the inclined portions 21 protruding bow-likelaterally across a whole of the upper display portion 4A and the middledisplay portion 4B are formed in the right and left end portions of thecabinet 3. The inclined portions 21 each being configured of theinclined face 21 a and the thick peripheral frame 21 c, the reflectingface 21 b made of a member, on which a resin is chrome-plated in such away as to reflect the light, is formed on a part of the inclined face 21a and the thick peripheral frame 21 c. Furthermore, a diffuselyreflecting face 21 f, of which a surface is satin finished to form aplurality of fine irregularities, is formed in the other area of theinclined portion 21 a. A reflecting portion 131 is configured of thereflecting face 21 b and the diffusely reflecting face 21 f. The eightmain side lamps 22 a, being arranged in the vertical direction on thereflecting face 21 b, decrease in size gradually toward the top or thebottom from the center.

The diffusely reflecting faces 21 f and the reflecting faces 21 b areplanarly symmetrical across a vertically overlapping boundary surface BP(refer to FIG. 16) of the upper display portion 4A and the middledisplay portion 4B. Each diffusely reflecting face 21 f is formed on aninner side close to the upper display portion 4A or the middle displayportion 4B, while each reflecting face 21 b is formed in a position, onan outer side far from the upper display portion 4A or the middledisplay portion 4B, closer to the boundary surface BP in the verticaldirection. Furthermore, the diffusely reflecting face 21 f increases inwidth as it goes away from a center of the inclined portion 21, whilethe reflecting face 21 b decreases in width as it goes away from thecenter of the inclined portion 21.

An outer end portion 131 a (refer to FIGS. 18 and 19) of the reflectingface 21 b is positioned in such a way as to be approximately in planewith the front surfaces 4 a and 4 b of the upper display portion 4A andthe middle display portion 4B. An inner end portion 131 b of thereflecting face 21 b is in a position, posterior to the front surfaces 4a and 4 b of the upper display portion 4A and the middle display portion4B, closer to the upper display portion 4A and the middle displayportion 4B than the outer end portion 131 a. In this way, the outer endportion 131 b of the reflecting face 21 b being positioned rearward ofthe outer end portion 131 a, the reflecting face 21 b is inclined towardthe upper display portion 4A and the middle display portion 4B detachedrearward from the front surfaces 4 a and 4 b of the upper displayportion 4A and the middle display portion 4B.

An outer end portion 131 c of the diffusely reflecting face 21 f iscontinuous with the inner end portion 131 b of the reflecting face 21 b,and furthermore, the transparent plates 115 and 129 are fixed to aninner end portion 131 d of the diffusely reflecting face 21 f. Thediffusely reflecting face 21 f is inclined in such a way that the innerend portion 131 d is in a position posterior to the outer end portion131 c, and is in a position closer to the upper display portion 4A andthe middle display portion 4B.

In the gaming machine 1, a light effect is performed by causing the fullcolor LED's 121 and 125 inside the peripheral frames 110 and 123 toflash, or emit light of various colors. A part of the light emitted fromthe full color LED's 121 and 125, being shielded by the front lightshielding plates 113 and 128 and side light shielding plates 114 and 130of the peripheral frames 110 and 123, is unlikely to reach the player'seyes. The other light, after being transmitted through the transparentplates 115 and 129, passes through the notch holes HL, and is reflectedby the reflecting portions 131 of the inclined portions 21. Reflectedbeams of light L1 and L2 are visible to the gallery watching the slotgame from diagonally behind the player, improving the advertising of thegaming machine 1.

In the gaming machine 1, as the full color LED's 121 and 125 aredisposed on a farther inside the cabinet 3 than the front surfaces 4 aand 4 b of the upper display portion 4A and the middle display portion4B, it is difficult for the full color LED's 121 and 125 to be visibleto the player. The quantity of the light reflected off the reflectingface 131, configured of the light-reflecting member, is more suppressedthan that of the light radiated from the full color LED's 121 and 125,reducing the strain on the player's eyes. As a result, the effect due tothe light from the full color LED's 121 and 125 becomes possible whilereducing the strain on the player's eyes. As the full color LED's 121and 125 are disposed on the inner side of the cabinet 3, it does nothappen that the full color LED's 121 and 125 are damaged by beingtouched by the player.

The diffusely reflecting faces 21 f being formed in the reflectingportions 131 of the inclined portions 21, the quantity of the light L2reflected off the diffusely reflecting face 21 f is more suppressed thanthat of the light L1 reflected off the reflecting face 21 b. For thatreason, a glare which the player feels is reduced, making it easier toallow the player to concentrate on the game.

Furthermore, the reflecting portions 131 are disposed along the rightand left peripheral edges of the upper display portion 4A and the middledisplay portion 4B. The player and the surrounding galleries arefocusing most closely on the upper display portion 4A and the middledisplay portion 4B, on which are displayed the information relating tothe game. The right and left side edges of the upper display portion 4Aand the middle display portion 4B facing the places in which thereflecting portions 131 are disposed, the quantity of light in thevicinity of the side edges of the upper display portion 4A and themiddle display portion 4B is increased by the lights L1 and L2 reflectedoff the reflecting portions 131. As a result, the upper display portion4A and the middle display portion 4B being accentuated, it is possibleto improve the attraction of the galleries to the gaming machine 1 whilesuppressing the strain on the player's eyes.

Furthermore, the full color LED's 121 and 125, being disposed inside theperipheral frames 110 and 123 and in such a way as to face thereflecting portions 131, are contiguous with the upper display portion4A and the middle display portion 4B. The upper display portion 4A, themiddle display portion 4B and the full color LED's 121 and 125 receivinga power supply from a common power source, by the full color LED's 121and 125 coming near to the upper display portion 4A and the middledisplay portion 4B, the wiring therebetween becomes easier. By the fullcolor LED's 121 and 125 being disposed inside the peripheral frames 110and 123, the upper display portion 4A and the middle display portion 4Bare also accentuated by light leaking from the peripheral frames 110 and123, enabling the improvement in the degree of advertising of the gamingmachine 1.

The reflecting faces 21 b of the reflecting portions 131 are disposed onright and left sides of the upper display portion 4A and the middledisplay portion 4B. The reflecting portions 21 b are inclined toward theupper display portion 4A and the middle display portion 4B as they goaway from the front surfaces 4 a and 4 b of the upper display portion 4Aand the middle display portion 4B toward a rear of the cabinet 3. As aresult, it becomes easy for the light L1 reflected by the reflectingfaces 21 b to reach the eyes of the gallery positioned diagonally behindthe player, improving the degree of advertising to the gallery whilesuppressing the strain on the player's eyes.

External Display Device

As shown in FIG. 20, an external display device 150 is fixed to an upperend of the cabinet 3 of the gaming machine 1 via a support 151. Theexternal display device 150, as shown in FIGS. 21 to 23, has a casing (acabinet) 157 configured of a transparent acrylic plate 153 on a frontand an opaque rear cover 155 on a rear. A film 159 (refer to FIG. 23),on which is displayed a logo showing an appellation of the slot game ora character image, is disposed on a rear of the acrylic plate 153 and inan approximate center of the acrylic plate 153. A fluorescent lamp box162 (refer to FIG. 22) housing a fluorescent lamp 161 is furnishedrearward of the film 159. The film 159 is fixed sandwiched between theacrylic plate 153 and the fluorescent lamp box 162. A display portion160, which displays the information relating to the game, is configuredof a central portion 153 a of the acrylic plate 153 overlapping the film159, and the film 159. Light radiated from the fluorescent lamp 161 istransmitted through the display portion 160, causing the image displayedon the film 159 to stand out.

An LED unit 163 extending along an upper edge of the acrylic plate 153is fixed to an upper portion of the display device casing 157. The LEDunit 163, as well as being chrome-plated, has a horizontally long casing163 b, on a front surface of which is mounted a plurality of lens bodies163 a, an LED substrate, which is housed in the casing 163 b and extendsin a longitudinal direction of the casing 163 b, and a plurality ofwhite LED's mounted on the LED substrate. A similar LED unit 163 is alsoprovided in a lower portion of the display device casing 157. Whitelight L3 emitted from the white LED's in the LED unit 163 is transmittedthrough the lens bodies 163 a, and radiated forward.

LED substrates 167 (refer to FIGS. 22 and 23) extending in the verticaldirection are fixed to right and left side portions of the rear cover155, and a plurality of white LED's 169 facing forward are mounted oneach LED substrate 167. An oblique light portion 173 mounted with aplurality of lens bodies 171 in a longitudinal direction of each LEDsubstrate 167 is provided between the LED substrate 167 and the acrylicplate 153. The white light L3 emitted from the white LED's 169 istransmitted through the lens bodies 171 of the oblique light portion 173and the acrylic plate 153, and radiated forward. Furthermore, areflecting face 173 a, on which a resin is chrome-plated in such a wayas to be able to reflect the light, is formed on a front surface of theoblique light portion 173. The reflecting face 173 a, as well as facingthe acrylic plate 153, is inclined in such a way that an outer end 173 bon a side far from the display portion 160 is close to the acrylic plate153, and an inner end 173 c is far from the acrylic plate 153.

LED substrates 175 extending in the vertical direction are disposedcloser to a center than the right and left oblique light portions 173,and on a rear side of the display portion 160. The LED substrates 175are fixed to a plate-like bracket 176. The bracket 176, being fixed toan inner wall surface of the rear cover 155, protrudes forward from theinner wall surface of the rear cover 155. A plurality of full colorLED's (light emitting units) 177, facing toward the reflecting face 173a of each oblique light portion 173, are mounted on each LED substrate175. Translucent lacteous plates 179 are each fixed to the bracket 176,between the LED substrate 175 and the reflecting face 173 a. Lightemitted from the full color LED's 177, after being transmitted throughthe lacteous plates 179, is reflected by the reflecting faces 173 a.Light L4 reflected off the reflecting faces 173 a is transmitted throughright and left end portions 153 b of the acrylic plate 153, and radiatedforward.

In the external display device 150, as the full color LED's 177 aredisposed inside the display device casing 157, it is difficult for themto be visible to the player. The quantity of the light L4 reflected fromthe reflecting faces 173 a being more suppressed than that of the lightradiated from the full color LED's 177, the strain on the player's eyesis reduced. As a result, an effect due to the light from the full colorLED's 177 becomes possible while reducing the fatigue of the player'seyes. As the full color LED's 177 are disposed in the display devicecasing 157, it does not happen that the player touches and breaks thefull color LED's 177.

The reflecting faces 173 a are disposed along side edges of the displayportion 160 which displays the information relating to the game. Aplayer, who plans to determine which of a plurality of gaming machinesinstalled in an game arcade or a casino, tends to focus on not only themiddle display portion 4B and the upper display portion 4A of the gamingmachine 1, but also the display portion 160 of the external displaydevice 150. As the right and left side edges of the display portion 160face places in which the reflecting faces 173 a are disposed, a quantityof light in a vicinity of the side edges of the display portion 160 isincreased by the light L4 reflected off the reflecting faces 173 a, andthe display portion 160 is accentuated, so it is possible to improve theattraction of the gallery to the gaming machine 1 while suppressing thestrain on the player's eyes.

The reflecting faces 173 a are inclined more toward the display portion160 as the reflecting faces 173 a are away from the acrylic plate 153 tothe backside, the acrylic plate 153 being disposed on the front side ofthe display device casing 157. As a result, it becomes easy for thelight L4 reflected by the reflecting faces 173 a to reach the eyes ofthe gallery positioned diagonally behind the player, improving thedegree of advertising to the gallery while suppressing the strain on theplayer's eyes.

Speakers

As shown in FIG. 3, between the middle display portion 4B and theoperation table 10, laterally protruding speakers 23A and 23B areprovided respectively on both right and left side surfaces of thecabinet 3. The speakers 23A and 23B serve as an effect producing devicethat produces an audial/visual effect related to the game. The speaker23A is installed on the right side surface of the cabinet 3, while thespeaker 23B is installed on the left side surface of the cabinet 3. Thespeaker 23A is disposed in an area which appears rearward of thelaterally opening front door (the opening and closing door) 6 when thefront door 6 is in an opened state in which it protrudes in a lateraldirection of the cabinet 3.

FIG. 24 is an enlarged side view showing the speaker in FIG. 2. FIG. 25is a sectional view along line XXV-XXV shown in FIG. 24. FIG. 26 is anexploded perspective view of the speaker shown in FIG. 24. FIG. 27 is afront view showing the speaker in a state in which a net is removed.

The speakers 23A and 23B is formed in a bow shape protruding laterallyas shown in FIGS. 25 to 27. A speaker box 201 that outputs a sound isdisposed in each speaker 23A and 23B. The speaker box 201 includes aspeaker unit 202 and a speaker cabinet 203 housing the speaker unit 202.The speaker unit 202 has a front surface fixed to a front wall of thespeaker cabinet 203, and the speaker cabinet 203 is fixed to each sidesurface of the cabinet 3.

The speaker unit 202 is disposed at a height equivalent to or greaterthan that of the operation table 10 and equivalent to or less than thatof the middle display portion 4B. The speakers 23A and 23B are inclinedin such away that upper portions tilt rearward, and the speaker units202 in the speakers 23A and 23B are disposed in such a way that frontsurfaces of the speaker units 202 are parallel to the front surface ofthe middle display portion 4B. In this way, by inclining the speakerunits 202 diagonally upward, and directing the sound emitted from thespeaker units 202 toward the player, it is possible to improve a soundeffect for the player.

FIG. 28 is a right side view showing a state in which the front door isopened. The front door 6, which can pivot in the approximatelyhorizontal direction via a hinge 207 extending in an approximatelyvertical direction, and open and close, is provided on the front surfaceof the cabinet 3, and the speaker 23A is disposed rearward of the hinge207. Specifically, the speaker 23A is disposed in a position in whichthe speaker 23A does not interfere with the front door 6 when openingthe front door 6. Accordingly, even in a case in which the front door 6is fully opened, as it is possible to avoid a contact of the front door6 with the speaker 23A, it is possible to prevent damage due to ahitting of the front door 6 against the speaker 23A.

The speakers 23A and 23B, as shown in FIGS. 24 to 27, each furtherinclude a net 204 covering a front face of the speaker box 201, a frame205 to which the net 204 is fixed, and a rear side portion cover 206covering a side face and a rear surface of the speaker box 201. The net204 is fixed to a front end portion of the rear side portion cover 206via the frame 205, and the frame 205 and the rear side portion cover 206are attached to each side face of the cabinet 3.

The frame 205, configuring a peripheral portion of the front face ofeach speaker 23A and 23B, is disposed at a front of the speaker box 201.Also, an outer peripheral portion (a corner portion) of the frame 205forms an inclined face 205 a inclined with respect to each side surfaceof the cabinet 3. The inclined face 205 a extends in such a way as to goaway from each side surface of the cabinet 3 diagonally behind thecabinet. That is, the inclined face 205 a forms an inclined face facingdiagonally forward.

Openings 205 b (refer to FIG. 26) for exposing the speaker lamps (lightsources) 24 are formed in the inclined face 205 a of the frame 205. Oneof the heretofore described light emitting units 20 is disposed in theouter peripheral portion of the front surface of each speaker 23A and23B. The light emitting unit 20 has the inclined face 205 a and thespeaker lamps 24.

The speaker lamps 24 are fixed onto the substrate 207 as shown in FIGS.25 and 26, and are disposed in the vertical direction along the outerperipheral portion of each speaker 23A and 23B. FIG. 29 is a front viewshowing an arrangement of the speaker box, the substrate and the speakerlamps in the speaker. The substrate 207, as shown in FIG. 29, is fixedto the front of the speaker box 201. Some of the speaker lamps 24 aredisposed in a position overlapping the speaker box 201, in the frontview. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce a widthwise size of thegaming machine 1.

FIG. 30 is an enlarged side view showing the inclined face and thespeaker lamps, FIG. 31 is an enlarged sectional view showing theinclined face and the speaker lamps, and FIG. 32 is a perspective viewshowing the speaker shown in FIG. 24 from a direction facing theinclined face. Each speaker lamp 24, as shown in FIG. 31, having acylindrical body 24 a, is disposed in such a way that an axial directionof the cylindrical body 24 a follows a front and rear direction of thecabinet 3. A leading end 24 b of each speaker lamp 24 is formed in aspherical shape.

The substrate 207 being fixed to an outer edge of a front surface of thespeaker cabinet 203, a main surface of the substrate 207 faces towardthe front of the cabinet 3. As shown in FIGS. 30 to 32, the speakerlamps 24 are placed in a state in which they protrude forward from theinclined face 205 a. That is, an axis of each speaker lamp 24 and theinclined face 205 a intersect at a predetermined angle, and apart ofeach cylindrical body 24 a, and the leading ends 24 b, are exposed fromthe inclined face 205 a.

Next, a description will be given of a visibility of the speaker lamps24 in a case in which the gaming machine 1 is viewed by the galleriesaround the gaming machine 1. As shown in FIG. 31, when the speaker lamps24 are viewed from a front of the gaming machine 1 (from direction shownby an arrow A in FIG. 31), a size of a light emitting range of eachspeaker lamp 24 looks approximately the same as a size of a diameter Rof the speaker lamps 24. In a case when the speaker lamps 24 are viewedfrom diagonal direction, specifically, from a direction (which is shownby an arrow B in FIG. 31) facing the inclined face 205 a, the size ofthe light emitting range of each speaker lamp 24 becomes a R, which islarger than the diameter R of the speaker lamps 24. Accordingly, as itbecomes easy for the gallery in a position approximately facing theinclined face 205 a to focus on the speaker lamps 24, it is possible toattract the galleries to the gaming machine 1.

FIG. 33 is a perspective view showing the speaker shown in FIG. 24 fromdiagonally behind the gaming machine 1. A front outer corner portion ofeach speaker 23A and 23B forming the inclined face 205 a inclinedrearward, as the speaker lamps 24 are disposed on the inclined face 205a, it is possible to see the speaker lamps 24 from diagonally behind thegaming machine 1. In this way, it being possible to widen a range inwhich the light from the speaker lamps 24 can be seen, diagonally behindthe gaming machine 1, it is possible to enhance the degree of attractionof gallery to the gaming machine 1 diagonally behind the gaming machine1.

In the gaming machine 1 according to the embodiment, as the speaker 23Ais disposed in the area posterior to the front door 6 which appears whenthe front door 6 is put in the opened state and projects in the lateraldirection of the cabinet 3, it is possible to, while improving the soundeffect, make efficient use of an open space between cabinets of adjacentgaming machines 1. Although the gaming machine 1 is configured in such away as to include the speaker 23A as an effect producing device, it isalso acceptable to configure a gaming machine include other effectproducing devices such as, for example, a light emitting device or amonitor. It is also acceptable that the front door 6 is one which pivotsin the approximately horizontal direction, or one which slides in theapproximately horizontal direction.

The gaming machine 1 is configured to include the middle display portion4B that is disposed on the front surface of the cabinet 3 and displaysthe information relating to the game, and the operation table 10 that isdisposed on the front surface of the cabinet 3 and provided with theoperation unit that allows the player to input commands for playing thegame. The middle display portion 4B is disposed above the operationtable 10, and the speaker units 202 are disposed at the heightequivalent to or greater than that of the operation table 10 andequivalent to or less than that of the middle display portion 4B.According to this configuration, it is possible to arrange the speakerunits 202 in a vicinity of the player, and to further improve acousticeffects output to the player.

The middle display portion 4B is disposed to be inclined to tiltrearward toward the player, and is disposed in such a way that the frontsurfaces of the speaker units 202 are parallel to the front surface ofthe middle display portion 4B. By inclining the middle display portion4B diagonally upward and to face toward the player, the player can seethe display portion from a comfortable position. Furthermore, bydisposing the speaker units in such a way as to be parallel to themiddle display portion 4B and to face the player, it is possible tofurther improve the acoustic effect output to the player.

As the gaming machine 1 includes the speakers 23A and 23B as the effectdevices, it is possible to perform an effect by means of the soundoutput from the speaker boxes 201 in the speakers 23A and 23B. Also, asthe effect producing devices disposed lateral to the cabinet 3 are usedas the speaker boxes 210, unlike a case of a light effect due to thelight emitting device or an image effect using the monitor, the player,without needing to move his or her sight line in order to look at thelaterally disposed effect devices, can concentrate on the game.

As the speaker boxes 201 are provided on both right and left sidesurfaces of the cabinet 3, a distance between the speaker boxes 201 canbe widened in comparison with a hitherto known one and, as well as itbeing possible to improve a sound effect such as a stereo effect due tothe speaker boxes 201 (particularly, the speaker units 202) or asurround effect, it is possible to make effective use of open spaces onboth sides in a right and left direction of the cabinet 3.

According to the gaming machine 1, as the middle display portion 4B isdisposed on the front surface of the cabinet 3, and the speaker lamps 24are installed on the side surfaces of the cabinet 3, without the lightfrom the speaker lamps 24 impeding the game of the player, it ispossible to attract the galleries around the gaming machine 1 to thegaming machine 1.

The speaker lamps 24 are installed in such a way as to protrude forwardfrom the inclined faces 205 a inclined with respect to the side surfacesof the cabinet 3 and to face diagonally forward. According to thisconfiguration, the light emitting units of the speaker lamps 24 lookwider when viewed at the speaker lamps 24 from a position which isdiagonally in front of the cabinet 3 and approximately faces theinclined faces 205 a, than when viewing at the speaker lamps 24 from infront of the cabinet 3. As a result, as it becomes easy for the galleryin the position approximately facing the inclined faces 205 a to focuson the speaker lamps 24, it is possible to improve the effect ofattraction of the galleries to the gaming machine 1.

As the speaker lamps 24 are installed at predetermined intervals from alateral end of the middle display portion 4B, as well as it becomingmore difficult for the light from the speaker lamps 24 to be visible tothe player, it is possible to further improve the effect of attractionof the galleries watching the gaming machine 1 from afar to the gamingmachine 1.

As the speaker lamps 24 are disposed at the height equivalent to orgreater than that of the operation table 10 and equivalent to or lessthan that of the middle display portion 4B, by disposing the middledisplay portion 4B and the speaker lamps 24 at the same height as thesight line of the gallery, it is possible to immediately focus the sightline of the gallery focusing on the speaker lamps 24 on the middledisplay portion 4B. Also, by disposing the speaker lamps 24 in such away as to be parallel to the middle display portion 4B, it is possibleto immediately focus the sight line of the gallery focusing on thespeaker lamps 24 on the middle display portion 4B.

The speaker lamps 24 are disposed on the front surfaces of the speakerboxes 201 protruding laterally from the side surfaces of the cabinet 3.That is, the speaker lamps 24 are disposed in the position overlappingthe speaker boxes 201, in the front view. Accordingly, it is possible toreduce the width in the lateral direction of the gaming machine 1. Forexample, even in a case of increasing a diameter of the speaker units202 in the speaker boxes 201 in order to eliminate a lack of low-pitchedsound production and improve a sound quality, it is possible to reducethe width in the lateral direction of the gaming machine 1.

Although some of the speaker lamps 24 and the speaker units 202 aredisposed in a height position equivalent to or higher than the operationtable 10 and equivalent to or lower than the variable display position4B, it is also acceptable to dispose the speaker lamps 24 and thespeaker units 202 in another height position.

Top Lamp

A detailed description will be given of the heretofore described powerlamps 26 a of the top lamp 26 while referring to FIGS. 34 and 35.

A cover plate 26 c is disposed at a front of the top lamp 26, and thepower lamps 26 a are provided in such a way as to protrude from thecover plate 26 c. The power lamps 26 a, being lamps emitting light inthe approximately horizontal direction, are each configured of a powerlamp light emitting unit (a light emitting unit) 300 emitting the light,and a lens barrel (a light shielding portion) 310 which causes the lightfrom the power lamp light emitting unit 300 to emit from an opening 310a.

The power lamp light emitting unit 300 is configured of a substrate 304provided with four LED's (light sources) 302, a support member 306 whichsupports the substrate 304, and a lens 308 through which light from theLED's 302 is transmitted. The substrate 304 being disposed approximatelyvertically in such a way as to face the opening 310 a of the lens barrel310, the four LED's 302 are provided on a front surface 304 a thereof,aligned in two vertical and horizontal arrays. These LED's 302 beingfull color type LED's, a control of a lighting, a blinking or anemission color thereof is performed by a not-shown signal circuit.

The support member 306, supporting the substrate 304 from a rear surface304 b thereof, is fixed to a part of the heretofore described cabinet 3.A lens 308, being a spherical lens (a ball lens), is disposed to a frontof and in proximity to the four LED's 302. For that reason, light emitfrom each LED 302 is transmitted through the lens 308, and heads towardthe opening 310 a of the lens barrel 310. The light emit from each lens302 is refracted when transmitted through the lens 308, and emitted asconverging light heading in the approximately horizontal direction.

The lens barrel 310, having an approximately cylindrical shape extendingin the approximately horizontal direction, is fitted in a lampinstallation portion 26 d formed in a tubular shape in such a way as towarp rearward from the cover plate 26 c. The lens barrel 310,surrounding the substrate 304 and the lens 308 in the power lamp lightemitting unit 304 in an integrated manner, causes the light from thepower lamp light emitting unit 300 to emit from the opening 310 a, whichis a front side opening.

The lens barrel 310 has an outer cylinder 312 on an outer side and aninner cylinder 314 positioned on an inner side of the outer cylinder312. The outer cylinder 312, having an approximately cylindrical shape,decreases in diameter gently toward a front. A rear end portion 312 b ofthe outer cylinder 312 is fixed to the heretofore described supportmember 306 of the power lamp light emitting unit 300. The inner cylinder314, being provided in such a way as to enter an inside from a front endportion 312 a of the outer cylinder 312, has a funnel shape decreasingin diameter toward a rear.

A pair of supporting posts 316 is formed, in upper and lower positionsof the inner cylinder 314, between the outer cylinder 312 and the innercylinder 314. Each support 316, also being a pole-like portion extendingrearward from the front end portion 312 a of the outer cylinder 312,passes between the outer cylinder 312 and the inner cylinder 314, andextends to a position posterior to a rear end portion 314 a of the innercylinder 314. A portion between the pair of supporting posts 316 beingbridged by a plate 318 parallel to the heretofore described substrate304 of the power lamp light emitting unit 300, the plate 318 is fixed bya screw 320 to an end surface of a rear end portion 316 a of eachsupport 316.

A circular hole 318 a being formed in a center of the plate 318, theheretofore described lens 308 is fitted from a front side into thecircular hole 318 a. The lens 308, being in contact with the rear endportion 314 a of the inner cylinder 314 positioned forward of the lens308, is supported in such a way as to be sandwiched from a front andrear direction by the rear end portion 314 a of the inner cylinder 314and the plate 318.

In this kind of power lamp 26 a, when the LED's 302 of the power lamplight emitting unit 300 emit light, the light, as well as being causedto fall incident on the lens 308 disposed forward of the LED's 302, isrefracted in the lens 308, and becomes the converging light. That is,the light from the LED's 302, by being transmitted through the lens, iscaused to converge, and becomes high linearity light heading in theapproximately horizontal direction. Then, the light transmitted throughthe lens 308, by way of the inside of the inner cylinder 314, is causedto emit from the opening 310 a of the lens barrel 310.

That is, in each power lamp 26 a, as the LED's 302 and the lens 308 ofthe power lamp light emitting unit 300 are surrounded by the lens barrel310, only the light, among the beams of light caused to emit from theLED's 302, which has been transmitted through the lens 308, is caused toemit from the opening 310 a, and the other light is shielded by the lensbarrel 310. Consequently, a radiation area of the light emit from thepower lamp light emitting unit 300 of the power lamp 26 a is limited toan area of the converging light (refer to dashed-dotted lines in FIG.35) heading toward an approximately horizontal front from the lens 308.

For that reason, the player who, facing the display portion 4 and theoperation buttons 11 (the operation unit) of the operation table 10which are disposed at the front of the gaming machine 1, plays the gamein a position immediately below the power lamps 26 a, is out of theradiation area of the power lamps 26 a, and the light from the powerlamps 26 a is not radiated on the player. Accordingly, the light fromthe power lamps 26 a not being visible to the player, the reduction inthe fatigue of the player is realized, and also, the player canconcentrate on the game.

Also, as the light from the power lamps 26 a is caused to converge inthe approximately horizontal direction using the lens 308, in comparisonwith a case in which the light is dispersed, it is more difficult forthe light emit from the power lamp light emitting unit 300 to headtoward a lower side where the player is. That is, a situation, in whichthe light from the power lamp light emitting unit 300 is visible to theplayer, is more effectively avoided by means of the lens 308. Inaddition, it is easy for the light caused to converge by the lens 308 toreach far, increasing a degree of advertising of the light to a galleryfar away. Moreover, as the power lamps 26 a use the full color LED's 302as the light sources of the power lamp light emitting unit 300, it beingpossible to realize various light effects which cannot be realized withmonochromatic light sources, it is possible to improve a dramaticeffect.

It not always being necessary that a light shielding portion such as thelens barrel is provided in such a way as to surround a periphery of thepower lamp light emitting unit. It is sufficient to have an aspect inwhich the light shielding portion is interposed between the power lamplight emitting unit and the player in such a way as to be able to shieldat least a part of light heading toward a player side. However, in acase in which the light shielding portion surrounds the periphery of thepower lamp light emitting unit, as a situation of the light leaking fromthe light shielding portion can be avoided with a higher accuracy incomparison with a case in which the light shielding portion does notsurround the periphery, it is preferable in that it is possible to morereliably avoid a situation in which the light from the power lamp lightemitting unit is visible to the player.

Next, a detailed description will be given, while referring to FIGS. 36to 38, of the strip-shaped lamp 26 b of the top lamp 26.

Between the heretofore described power lamps 26 a disposed on both sidesof the top lamp 26, a recessed portion 330 extending right and left overan approximately whole length between the power lamps 26 a is providedon a rear side of the cover plate 26 c. The recessed portion 330 beingprovided in such a way as to be recessed rearward with respect to thefront surface of the cabinet 3 provided with the top lamp 26, the upperdisplay portion 4A positioned below the top lamp 26 and the like, across-section thereof is approximately rectangular.

The recessed portion 330, being partitioned into two right and leftportions by three walls 332 perpendicular to the cover plate 26 c, isdivided into a right recessed portion 330A and a left recessed portion330B, each of which is sandwiched by a pair of the walls 332. A lightsource unit 340, which emits light, and a reflecting plate 350, whichreflects the light from the light source unit 340, are housed insideeach of the right recessed portion 330A and the left recessed portion330B. The strip-shaped lamp (the light emitting unit) 26 b is configuredof the recessed portion 330, the light source unit 340 and thereflecting plate 350.

The light source unit 340, being disposed in such a way as to extend inthe right and left direction in a height position approximately halfwaybetween the recessed portions 330A and 330B, is configured of areed-shaped substrate 342 and six LED's (light sources) 344 installed atequal intervals on a substrate surface in an extending direction of thesubstrate 342. The substrate 342 extends horizontally, and is inclinedin such a way that the surface thereof faces diagonally upward. Each LED344 provided on the substrate 342 being, for example, a white LED, acontrol of lighting or blinking is performed by a not-shown signalcircuit. Supposing that a straight line connecting the LED 344 and alower edge 330 a of the recessed portion 330 is designated as a straightline L (refer to FIG. 37), the LED 344 is in a position in which thestraight line L intersects with a perpendicular line from the frontsurface of the cabinet 3 (for example, a perpendicular line 4 p from adisplay surface 4 s of the upper display portion 4A) at an acute angleγ.

The reflecting plate 350, being a member made by bending forming astainless plate material, is configured of a support 352, which supportsthe light source unit 340 from below, and a reflecting portion 354positioned on an upper side of the support 352. The support 352, beingprovided in such a way as to stand up from a bottom surface 330 b of therecessed portion 330, supports the substrate 342 of the light sourceunit 340 from a rear surface side thereof. The reflecting portion 354extends diagonally upward and forward from an upper end portion 352 a ofthe support 352 positioned on a rear side of the light source unit 340.The reflecting portion 354, bending downward at a bending portion 354 cin a vicinity of a center between a lower end portion 354 a and an upperend portion 354 b thereof, is divided into a first reflecting portion354A below the bending portion 354 c and a second reflecting portion354B above the bending portion 354 c.

Herein, front surfaces of the first reflecting portion 354A and thesecond reflecting portion 354B being made reflective and formingreflecting faces 356A and 356B respectively, the reflecting face 356A ofthe first reflecting portion 354A is inclined at an inclined angle (afirst inclined angle) α with respect to a horizontal plane H, while thereflecting face 356B of the second reflecting portion 354B is inclinedat an inclined angle (a second inclined angle) β with respect to thehorizontal plane H. As described heretofore, as the reflecting portion354 bends downward at the bending portion 354 c, the inclined angle β ofthe reflecting face 356B of the second reflecting portion 354B issmaller than the inclined angle α of the reflecting face 356A of thefirst reflecting portion 354A.

A part of the light from the LED's 344 of each light source unit 340 isreflected off the reflecting faces 356A and 356B of the reflectingportion 354, and heads toward an opening of the recessed portion 330which is an opening of the strip-shaped lamp 26 b. At this time, as thesecond reflecting portion 354B is positioned on a side farther away fromthe LED's 344 than the first reflecting portion 354A, and the inclinedangle β of the reflecting face 356B of the second reflecting portion354B is smaller than the inclined angle α of the reflecting face 356A ofthe first reflecting portion 354A, light reflected off the reflectingface 356A of the first reflecting portion 354A, and light reflected offthe reflecting face 356B of the second reflecting portion 354B, shift upor down, and travel in approximately the same direction.

Next, a description will be given of a visibility of the light in thestrip-shaped lamp 26 b.

As the gallery in a standing position faces the gaming machine 1, aheight of an eye line of a gallery M1 being on the same order as aheight of the strip-shaped lamp 26 b, the light caused to emit in thehorizontal direction from the strip-shaped lamp 26 b reaches thegallery. That is, as shown by an arrow L1 of FIG. 37, the light from theLED's 344 of the light source unit 340 directly reaches the gallery M1via the cover plate 26 c fitted in the opening of the strip-shaped lamp26 b (that is, the opening of the recessed portion 330). Also, apartfrom the direct light L1 from the LED's 344, as shown by arrows L2 andL3 of FIG. 37, lights L2 and L3 from the LED's 344, reflected off thereflecting portion 354, reach the gallery M1 via the cover plate 26 c.As the reflecting portion 354 has the first reflecting portion 354A andthe second reflecting portion 354B, the lights L2 and L3 reflected offthem reach the gallery M1 in two upper and lower tiers, the upperreflected light L3 and the lower reflected light L2.

Consequently, as shown in FIG. 36, three-tiered light of the light L1emitted from the LED 344 and the lights L2 and L3 reflected off thereflecting portion 354 is visible to the gallery. For that reason, inthe strip-shaped lamp 26 b, three-tiered light from the right recessedportion 330A and three-tiered light from the left recessed portion 330Bare visible from the eye line of the gallery. As the partition wall 332between the right recessed portion 330A and the left recessed portion330B is thin, it appearing to the gallery that the light from the rightrecessed portion 330A and the light from the left recessed portion 330Aare continuous, strip-shaped light divided into three vertical tiers isvisually perceived as a whole of the strip-shaped lamp 26 b.

Meanwhile, as the player in a sitting position faces the gaming machine1, a height of an eye line of a player M2 is several tens of centimetersbelow the strip-shaped lamp 26 b, and is slightly above the straightline L connecting the LED's 344 and the lower edge 330 a of the recessedportion 330. For that reason, the player M2 can visually perceive thelight emitted from the LED's 344, but cannot visually perceive the lightreflected off the reflecting portion 354. This is because the lightreflected off the first reflecting portion 354A becomes invisible byapproximately overlapping the light emitted from the LED's 344, andbecause the light reflected off the second reflecting portion 354B isnot reflected in a direction of the view point of the player.

Consequently, as shown in FIG. 38, single tier of the light emitted fromthe LED's 344 is visible to the player. For that reason, in thestrip-shaped lamp 26 b, the single tier of light from the right recessedportion 330A and the single tier of light from the left recessed portion330B being visible from the eye line of the player, a singlestrip-shaped beam of light is visible as the whole of the strip-shapedlamp 26 b.

As described heretofore, in the strip-shaped lamp 26 b of the gamingmachine 1, three strip-shaped beams of light are visible to the gallery,while only one strip-shaped beam of light is visible to the player. Forthis reason, in the strip-shaped lamp 26 b, a quantity of light headingtoward the player is smaller than a quantity of light heading toward thegallery. That is, a quantity of light visible to the player from thestrip-shaped lamp 26 b is reduced, by which means the fatigue of theplayer who continues the game is reduced.

As the reflecting portion 354 has the first reflecting portion 354A andthe second reflecting portion 354B, the reflected light from the LED's344 is heading toward the gallery through two paths L2 and L3. For thatreason, in comparison with a case in which the reflected light from theLED's 344 heads toward the gallery through one path, the quantity oflight from the strip-shaped lamp 26 b is increased, and a light emittingarea is widened, improving a degree of attraction by the strip-shapedlamp 26 b. By an apparent number of light sources being increased by amirror image of the LED's 344 due to the reflecting portion 354, it ispossible to reduce a number of LED's 344 actually used to ⅓, realizing areduction in a number of parts and an energy saving.

In the strip-shaped lamp 26 b, as the LED's 344 of the light source unit340 are disposed in such a way that the straight line L connecting eachLED 344 and the lower edge 330 a of the recessed portion 330 intersectswith the perpendicular line from the front surface of the cabinet 3 atthe acute angle γ, a majority of the light from the LED's 344 headingtoward the player is shielded by the lower edge 330 a of the recessedportion 330, effectively reducing the quantity of light heading towardthe player.

In order to adjust the quantity of light from the strip-shaped lamp 26b, as shown in FIG. 39, it is acceptable that a polarizing filter 360 isattached to a surface of the cover plate 26 c. The polarizing filter360, being attached in such a way as to cover a whole of the cover plate26 c, transmits light falling incident at a nearly vertical angle, andshields light falling incident at a predetermined incidence angle orgreater. For this reason, a gallery, whose eye line has approximatelythe same height as a height of the polarizing filter 360, can visuallyperceive the light emit from the strip-shaped lamp 26 b to the samedegree as in a case in which there is no polarizing filter 360.

Meanwhile, the light emit from the strip-shaped lamp 26 b being shieldedby the polarizing filter 360, a player who looks up at the polarizingfilter 360 from below can hardly visually perceive the light from thestrip-shaped lamp 26 b. Consequently, by adopting this kind ofpolarizing filter 360, a quantity of light visible to the player fromthe strip-shaped lamp 26 b is more effectively reduced, realizing afurther reduction in the fatigue of the player.

As shown in FIG. 40, it is also acceptable that the heretofore describedstrip-shaped lamp 26 b has an aspect in which a positional relationshipbetween the light source unit 340 and the reflecting plate 350 isreversed. That is, in the strip-shaped lamp 26 b shown in FIG. 40, thelight source unit 340 being installed on a ceiling plane 330 c of therecessed portion 330, the reflecting portion 354 is disposed below thelight source unit 340.

In the reflecting portion 354, a portion thereof above the bendingportion 354 c forms the first reflecting portion 354A having thereflecting face 356A of the inclined angle α, and a portion below thebending portion 354 c forms the second reflecting portion 354B havingthe reflecting face 356B of the inclined angle β. That is, in the sameway as the heretofore described embodiment, the second reflectingportion 354B is positioned on a side farther away from the LED's 344than the first reflecting portion 354A, and the inclined angle β of thereflecting face 356B of the second reflecting portion 354B is smallerthan the inclined angle α of the reflecting face 356A of the firstreflecting portion 354A.

In the heretofore described strip-shaped lamp 26 b, in the same way asin the heretofore described embodiment, the light emitted from the LED's344 and the three-tiered beams L1, L2 and L3 of the light reflected offthe reflecting portion 354 are visible to the gallery M1, and only thelight emitted from the LED's 344 is visible to the player M2. This isbecause the light reflected off the reflecting portion 354 is notreflected in the direction of the view point of the player M2 which isslightly above the straight line L connecting each LED 344 and the loweredge 330 a of the recessed portion 330.

That is, in the strip-shaped lamp 26 b of the aspect shown in FIG. 40,in the same way as the strip-shaped lamp 26 b shown in FIG. 37, threestrip-shaped beams of light are visible to the gallery, while only onestrip-shaped beam of light is visible to the player, and the quantity oflight heading toward the player is smaller than the quantity of lightheading toward the gallery. For that reason, the quantity of lightvisible to the player from the strip-shaped lamp 26 b is reduced,realizing the reduction in the fatigue of the player who continues thegame.

Hereafter, a detailed description will be given, while referring to thedrawings, of another embodiment of the invention.

As shown in FIG. 41, a gaming machine 401, being an upright-type slotmachine to be installed in a game arcade or a casino, has a cabinet 403for housing electrical or mechanical parts for executing a predeterminedgaming state. A display portion 404 for displaying information relatingto a game including, for example, an upper display portion 404A, amiddle display portion 404B and a lower display portion 404C, thedisplay portions 404A to 404C are attached to a front surface of thevertically long cabinet 403. The upper display portion 404A, having aliquid crystal panel 405A disposed above the display portion 404B,displays, for example, an effect image, an introduction of game details,an explanation of game rules and the like by means of the liquid crystalpanel 405A. The lower display portion 404C, being disposed below thedisplay portion 404B, has a plastic panel 405C on which an image isprinted, and lights up the plastic panel 405C by means of a backlight.

The display portion 404B for displaying a gaming state of the gamehaving the transparent liquid crystal panel 405B fixed to a front doorof the cabinet 403, it is possible for a player to see symbols of threereels R1, R2 and R3, disposed inside the cabinet 403, from outside viathe liquid crystal panel 405B. A plurality of pay lines arranged totraverse the display portion 404B horizontally and diagonally areprinted in areas of the display portion 404B corresponding to the threereels R1, R2 and R3. A payout amount display portion 408 and a creditamount display portion 409 are displayed in an upper portion of thedisplay portion 404B. The middle display portion 404B, being inclined insuch a way that the upper portion tilts rearward, is configured in sucha way that the player can play in a comfortable position.

An operation table 410 protruding forward being provided at a front ofthe cabinet 403, between the middle display portion 404B and the lowerdisplay portion 404C, as an operation unit which instructs an executionof the game, various kinds of operation button 411, such as a BETbutton, a COLLECT button, a START button, a STOP button and the like,are arranged on the operation table 410. A coin slot 412 and a bill slot413 are provided on the operation table 410. A ticket printer 414 and acard reader 415 are provided between the operation table 410 and themiddle display portion 404B. Furthermore, a coin tray 416 is provided ina lowermost portion of the cabinet 403.

A light emitting unit 420 is disposed on the cabinet 403 of the gamingmachine 401 in such a way as to surround a game area including the upperdisplay portion 404A, the middle display portion 404B, the lower displayportion 404C and the operation table 410. The light emitting unit 420 isconfigured of side lamps 422, which are provided on oblique light bases421 protruding bow-like laterally from right and left end portions ofthe cabinet 403 across the upper display portion 404A and the displayportion 404B, speaker lamps 424, which are provided on edges of bowshaped speakers 423 protruding laterally from right and left endportions of the cabinet 403 in positions near the operation table, underlamps 425, which are provided on a lower edge of the lower displayportion 404C, and a top lamp 426 which, being provided above the upperdisplay portion 404A, has power lamps 426 a disposed on both sides and astrip-shaped lamp 426 b arranged in a center in a horizontal direction.The light emitting unit 420 creates an attractive illumination by a lampcontrol.

In the heretofore described gaming machine 401, by supplementing lightfrom the display portion 404 and the operation buttons 411 on theoperation table 410 with light from the light emitting unit 420 disposedin such a way as to surround the game area, in cooperation with thelight from the display portion 404 in the game area and the light fromthe operation buttons 411 on the operation table 410, it is possible,using the light, to markedly improve a degree of advertising of thegaming machine 401 to a gallery. By appropriately changing a lightingcondition or a blinking condition of the light emitting unit 420, it ispossible, using the light, to easily distinguish the gaming machine 401from another machine. Accordingly, it is possible to provide anattractive gaming machine.

The gaming machine 401 further includes a topper effect producing device428 (which serves as an effect producing device) mounted on the cabinet403. The topper effect producing device 428, having a rectangularthin-boxed shape, is disposed in such a way as to be approximatelyparallel to the liquid crystal panel 405A of the upper display portion404A.

A plastic panel 428 a, on which an image is printed, being fitted in afront surface of the topper effect producing device 428, a configurationis such that the plastic panel 428 a is lit up by a built-in backlight498 (not shown in FIG. 41). Also, on the front surface of the toppereffect producing device 428, a plurality of LED's 428 b are disposed atequal intervals along upper and lower sides of the plastic panel 428 a.

Next, a description will be given, while referring to FIGS. 42 to 45, ofan internal configuration of the heretofore described gaming machine401.

FIG. 42 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of a wholeof the gaming machine 401. As shown in FIG. 42, the gaming machine 401has a plurality of components centered around a main circuit board 471on which a microcomputer 431 is mounted. The main circuit board 471,having the microcomputer 431, a random number generator 435, a samplingcircuit 436, a clock pulse generator 437 and a frequency divider 438,has an illumination effect control circuit (illumination controller)461, a hopper control circuit 463, a payout completion signal circuit465 and a display portion drive circuit 467.

The microcomputer 431 has a main CPU 432, an RAM 433 and an ROM 434. Themain CPU 432, operating in accordance with a program stored in the ROM434, by performing a reception and a transmission of a signal from andto another component via an I/O port 439, performs an operation controlof the whole of the gaming machine 401. Data and programs used when themain CPU 432 operates are stored in the RAM 433 and, for example, aswell as a random number sampled by the sampling circuit 436, to bedescribed hereafter, being temporarily held after a start of the game,code numbers of the reels R1, R2 and R3 and symbol numbers are storedtherein. A program, which the main CPU 432 executes, and permanent dataare stored in the ROM 434.

The random number generator 435, operating in accordance with aninstruction from the main CPU 432, generates random numbers in a certainrange. The sampling circuit 436, in accordance with an instruction fromthe main CPU 432, as well as extracting an optional random number fromamong random numbers generated by the random number generator 435,inputs the extracted random number into the main CPU 432. The clockpulse generator 437 generates a standard clock pulse for operating themain CPU 432, and the frequency divider 438 inputs a signal, in whichthe standard clock pulse is divided by a certain frequency, into themain CPU 432.

Also, a reel drive unit 450 is connected to the main circuit board 471.The reel drive unit 450 has a reel position detection circuit 451, whichdetects a position of each reel R1, R2 and R3, and a motor drive circuit452 which inputs a drive signal into motors M1, M2 and M3 for rotatingthe reels R1, R2 and R3 respectively. By the drive signal being inputfrom the motor drive circuit 452, the motors M1, M2 and M3 are operatedto rotate the reels R1, R2 and R3 respectively.

Furthermore, the operation buttons 411, including the STOP button forinputting an instruction to stop the reel R1, R2 or R3, the STARTbutton, the COLLECT button, the BET button and the like, being connectedto the main circuit board 471, a signal corresponding to a buttonrecessed portion is input into the main CPU 432 via the I/O portion 439.

The illumination effect control circuit 461 transmits an effect signalfor causing the heretofore described light emitting unit 420 and toppereffect producing device 428 to perform an illumination effect. The lightemitting unit 420, as shown in FIG. 43, is configured of a plurality oflamps including the heretofore described speaker lamps 424, under lamps425, power lamps 426 a and strip-shaped lamp 426 b, and LED's. Main sidelamps and subsidiary side lamps shown in FIG. 43 configure theheretofore described side lamps 422 provided on the oblique light bases421. A plurality of full color LED's shown in FIG. 43 are attached tothe liquid crystal panel 405B to decorate both right and left sides ofthe liquid crystal panel 405B. The lower full color LED's light up thecoin tray 416. The topper effect producing device 428 is seriallyconnected to the illumination effect control circuit 461 via the lightemitting unit 420 of this kind of configuration.

The hopper control circuit 463 drives the hopper 464 in accordance witha control of the main CPU 432, the hopper 464, and performs an operationfor performing a payout of a coin into the coin tray 416. The payoutcompletion signal circuit 465 receives data of a coin quantity valuefrom a coin detector 466 connected thereto and, in the event that thequantity value reaches data of a set quantity value, inputs a signalinforming of a coin payout completion into the main CPU 432. The coindetector 466 counts an amount of coins paid out by the hopper 464, andinputs data of the counted quantity value into the payout completionsignal circuit 465. The display portion drive circuit 467 controls adisplay operation of each kind of display portion such as the payoutamount display portion 408 and the credit amount display portion 409.

A subsidiary circuit board 472 is connected to the main circuit board471. The subsidiary circuit board 472, as shown in FIG. 44, receives acommand from the main circuit board 471, and performs a display controlof the liquid crystal panel 405A of the upper display portion 404A andthe liquid crystal panel 405B of the display portion 404B, and anemission control of a sound from the speakers 423. The subsidiarycircuit board 472 is configured on a circuit substrate separate from thecircuit substrate configuring the main circuit board 471, with amicrocomputer (hereafter called a “subsidiary microcomputer”) 473 as amain component, and has a sound source IC 478 that controls the soundemitted from the speakers 423, a power amplifier 479 that amplifies anoutput from the sound source IC 478, and an image control circuit 481that operates as a display controller of the liquid crystal panels 405Aand 405B.

The subsidiary microcomputer 473 is provided with a subsidiary CPU 474that performs a control operation in accordance with a control commandtransmitted from the main circuit board 471, a program ROM 475 thatserves as a storage unit, a work RAM 476, and I/O ports 477 and 480. Thesubsidiary circuit board 472, although not including the clock pulsegenerator, the frequency divider, the random number generator or thesampling circuit, is configured in such a way as to execute a randomnumber sampling on an operation program of the subsidiary CPU 474. Theprogram ROM 475 stores a control program executed by the subsidiary CPU474. The work RAM 476 is configured as temporary storage unit for whenthe control program is executed by the subsidiary CPU 474.

The image control circuit 481 is provided with an image control CPU 482,an image control work RAM 483, an image control program ROM 484, animage ROM 486, a video RAM 487 and an image control IC 488. The imagecontrol CPU 482, based on parameters set by the subsidiary microcomputer473, determines an image to be displayed on the liquid crystal panels405A and 405B, in accordance with an image control program stored in theimage control program ROM 484.

The image control program relating to the display on the liquid crystalpanels 405A and 405B, and various kinds of selection table, are storedin the image control program ROM 484. The image control work RAM 483 isconfigured as temporary storage unit for when the image control programis executed by the image control CPU 482. The image control IC 488 formsan image corresponding to details determined by the image control CPU482, and transmits it to the liquid crystal panels 405A and 405B.

The image ROM 486 stores dot data (bitmap data) for forming an image.The video RAM 487 operates as temporary storage unit for when the imageis formed by the image control IC 488.

FIG. 45 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of thetopper effect producing device 428 of the gaming machine 401. As shownin FIG. 45, the topper effect producing device 428 has an IN port 490,which receives information from the illumination effect control circuit461 outside the device, a CPU 491, which performs various kind ofcalculation process, a selector 492, which performs a selectiontransmission of an effect signal, and an OUT port 493 which sends theeffect signal to the LED's 428 b.

The IN port 490 of the topper effect producing device 428 is seriallyconnected to the illumination effect control circuit 461 of the maincircuit board 471 via the light emitting unit 420. The IN port 490,being effect information reception means, receives effect information(hereafter called first effect information) relating to the illuminationeffect of the topper effect producing device 428 from the illuminationeffect control circuit 461. Effect detail information instructing effectdetails such as a lighting pattern of each LED 428 b is included in thefirst effect information. For that reason, in a case in which the firsteffect information is transmitted from the OUT port 493 as the effectsignal, the LED's 428 serving as effect means perform an illuminationeffect corresponding to the effect detail information included in thefirst effect information. The first effect information received by theIN port 490 is transmitted in parallel to the CPU 491 and the selector492.

An ROM 494 and an RAM 495, which are effect information storage unit,being connected to the CPU 491, effect information (hereafter calledsecond effect information) relating to the illumination effect of thetopper effect producing device 428 is stored in the ROM 494. Although,in the same way as in the first effect information, effect detailinformation instructing effect details such as the lighting pattern ofeach LED 428 b is also included in the second effect information, therelevant effect detail information differs from the effect detailinformation included in the first effect information.

The CPU 491, when a predetermined effect condition is satisfied, as wellas transmitting an effect signal corresponding to the effect detailinformation included in the second effect information, which is storedin the ROM 494, to the selector 492, sends to the selector 492 aswitching command instructing the selector 492 to transmit the effectsignal in place of the first effect information. Herein, the effectcondition in the embodiment is that there is no inputting of the firsteffect information from the IN port 490 into the CPU 491. That is, whenthere is no input of the first effect information from the IN port 490into the CPU 491, the CPU 491, as well as transmitting an effect signalcorresponding to the second effect information to the selector 492,sends the switching command to the selector 492. It is also acceptablethat the effect condition, not being limited to the heretofore describedcondition, is an elapsing of a predetermined time period, a coming of apredetermined time, a reception of a specified signal from theillumination effect control circuit 461 or the like.

The selector 492, based on the switching command sent from the CPU 491,transmits either the effect signal corresponding to the first effectinformation sent from the IN port 490, or the effect signalcorresponding to the second effect information sent from the CPU 491, tothe LED's 428 b via the OUT port 493. That is, effect signaltransmission means, being configured of the heretofore described CPU491, selector 492 and OUT port 493, based on the predetermined effectcondition, transmits either an effect signal based on the first effectinformation received by the IN port 490, or an effect signal based onthe second effect information stored in the ROM 494, to the LED's 428 b.

A luminance adjustment switch 496, a lighting pattern switch 497 and abacklight 498 are connected to the CPU 491. The luminance adjustmentswitch 496, being a DIP switch for controlling a time interval betweenan ON and an OFF of each LED 428 b and adjusting a luminance, sends asignal for causing the CPU 491 to perform a multistage luminanceadjustment (for example, four-stage adjustment) to the CPU 491. Thelighting pattern switch 497, being a switch used for setting thelighting pattern of each LED 428 b as an effect change condition, inputsa signal for causing the CPU 491 to set various kinds of lightingpattern, to be described hereafter, into the CPU 491. By the CPU 491causing only an LED 428 b in a predetermined place, among the pluralityof LED's 428 b, to light and/or flash, a confirmation is performed as towhich lighting pattern has been set. The backlight 498 is anillumination unit that illuminates the plastic panel 428 a of the toppereffect producing device 428 in response to a transmission signal fromthe CPU 491. A cold-cathode tube may be used as the backlight 498.

Next, a description will be given, while referring to FIG. 46, of aprocedure of an effect process in the topper effect producing device428.

The CPU 491, by receiving the first effect information sent from the INport 490, constantly or intermittently monitoring whether or not the INport 490 has received the first effect information, performs adetermination of the effect condition (Step 1). Then, if the CPU 491 hasdetected the reception of the first effect information from the IN port490, it sends the switching command for transmitting the effect signalcorresponding to the first effect information to the selector 492, andthe effect signal is transmitted from the selector 492 via the OUT port493 to the LED's 428 b (Step 2).

Meanwhile, the CPU 491 performs the determination of the effectcondition (Step 1) and, if it has not detected the reception of thefirst effect information from the IN port 490, it extracts the secondeffect information from the ROM 494 (Step 3). Then, the CPU 491 sendsthe switching command for transmitting the effect signal of the secondeffect information to the selector 492, along with the effect signalcorresponding to the second effect information, to the selector 492.Continuing on, the effect signal sent to the selector 492 from the CPU491 is transmitted to the LED's 428 b, via the OUT port 493, from theselector 492 (Step 4).

Then, the LED's 428 b perform an effect corresponding to the effectsignal sent from the OUT port 493 (Step 5). In the topper effectproducing device 428, the above steps 1 to 5 are repeated as the effectprocess. Consequently, when the first effect information has been inputfrom the illumination effect control circuit 461 into the topper effectproducing device 428, as shown by an arrow A1, the LED's 428 b performan illumination effect corresponding to the first effect information.Meanwhile, when the first effect information has not been input from theillumination effect control circuit 461 into the topper effect producingdevice 428, as shown by an arrow A2, the LED's 428 b perform anillumination effect corresponding to the second effect informationstored in the ROM 494 of the topper effect producing device 428.

That is, in the topper effect producing device 428, as the LED's 428 bperform not only the illumination effect corresponding to the firsteffect information received from an exterior, but also an effectcorresponding to the effect signal of the second effect informationstored in the ROM 494, a diversification of effects being achieved, itis possible to perform an effect richer in variety. Moreover, even inthe event that the inputting of the first effect information from theillumination effect control circuit 461 into the topper effect producingdevice 428 has been interrupted because of a disconnection of a line orthe like, as the effect based on the second effect information isperformed, it is possible to continuously perform the effect due to thetopper effect producing device 428.

Also, in the heretofore described embodiment, as the effect detailinformation relating to the effect details of the LED's 428 b isincluded in the first effect information, it is not necessary for thetopper effect producing device 428 to store the effect detailinformation. That is, in the topper effect producing device 428, it notbeing necessary to newly provide storage unit for the effect detailinformation, or allot a part of a storage area of the ROM 494 in whichthe second effect information is stored, an efficient use is made of thestorage area of the topper effect producing device 428.

However, it is also possible, as necessary, to have an aspect in whichat least a part of the effect detail information relating to the effectdetails of the LED's 428 b is stored in the ROM 494 and, when the firsteffect information is input into the IN port 490, the CPU 491 extractsthe effect detail information, and sends it to the LED's 428 b. Forexample, it is also possible to have an aspect in which effect detailinformation relating to the lighting pattern of each LED 428 b is storedin the ROM 494 and, when the first effect information including only alight emitting timing as the effect detail information is input into theIN port 490, the CPU 491 extracts the effect detail information relatingto the lighting pattern, and sends it to the LED's 428 b.

Furthermore, in the heretofore described embodiment, the topper effectproducing device 428 is serially connected to the illumination effectcontrol circuit 461 of the main circuit board 471 via the light emittingunit 420. By adopting this kind of serial connection, it is possible toadd on the light emitting unit or the effect device, and also, wiringsnecessary for the connection are reduced in number.

Although the heretofore described embodiment shows an aspect in whichone item of second effect information is stored in the ROM 494, it isalso acceptable to appropriately change to an aspect in which aplurality of items of second effect information including differentitems of effect detail information are stored in the ROM 494. In thiscase, the CPU 491, in Step 3 in the effect process of the topper effectproducing device 428, selects and extracts one of the plurality of itemsof second effect information and, in Step 4, transmits the selectedsecond effect information to the LED's 428 b (refer to FIG. 46). In thisway, by storing the plurality of items of second effect information inthe ROM 494, it is possible for the topper effect producing device 428to realize a variety of effects depending on how the CPU 491 selects thesecond effect information.

Also, in the heretofore described aspect in which the plurality of itemsof second effect information are stored in the ROM 494, it is alsoacceptable that the CPU 491, at the time of Step 3, changes secondeffect information to be selected from the ROM 494 every time the effectchange condition is satisfied. The effect change condition includes anelapsing of a predetermined time period, a coming of a predeterminedtime, a reception or otherwise of a change signal from the illuminationeffect control circuit 461, a signal input of the lighting patternswitch 497 or the like. As the effect change condition, in a case of anaspect in which second effect information to be selected is changed inresponse to the signal input of the lighting pattern switch 497, it ispossible, by an operation of the lighting pattern switch 497, to set tooptional second effect information.

In this way, by changing the second effect information to be selectedfrom the ROM 494 in response to the effect change condition, it ispossible for the topper effect producing device 428 to realize variouseffect aspects corresponding to the effect change condition. Secondeffect information to be selected from the ROM 494 not necessarily beingchanged, even by simply randomly reselecting second effect informationto be selected, every time the effect change condition is satisfied, itis possible to realize various effect aspects.

Although the above description has been given of the topper effectproducing device 428 as an example of the effect device, the whole ofthe gaming machine 401 including the topper effect producing device 428can also become the effect device. In this case, the gaming machine 401,having a system similar to or equivalent to the system in the blockdiagram of the topper effect producing device 428 shown in FIG. 45,receives the first effect information from the exterior of the gamingmachine 401 (for example, a separate gaming machine, a game server orthe like). Then, the gaming machine 401, based on the predeterminedeffect condition, transmits either the effect signal based on the firsteffect information or the effect signal based on the second effectinformation stored in effect information storage unit (for example, theROM 434) of the gaming machine 401, and causes effect means (forexample, the light emitting unit 420 or the speakers 423) to perform aneffect corresponding to the signal. Accordingly, even in a case in whichthe gaming machine 401 itself is the effect device, in the same way asin a case in which the topper effect producing device 428 is the effectdevice, a diversification of effects by the gaming machine 401 isachieved, and the effect richer in variety is performed.

The present invention is not limited to the heretofore describedembodiment. For example, the effect producing device may not be limitedto the LED's 428 b performing the illumination effect, but it is alsoacceptable that a device performing the sound effect, a deviceperforming the image effect or the like is used as the effect producingdevice.

1. A gaming machine comprising: a cabinet; a display portion that isprovided on the cabinet and displays information related to a game; anoperation unit that is provided on the cabinet and allows a player toinput operations for playing the game; and a plurality of light emittingunits that are disposed in the cabinet, each of the light emitting unitsbeing arranged to emit light in a way that a quantity of light to beemitted toward the player is smaller than a quantity of light to beemitted toward other directions.
 2. The gaming machine according toclaim 1, wherein at least one of the light emitting units includes: arecessed portion that is recessed rearward from a front face of thecabinet; and a light source that is disposed inside the recessedportion.
 3. The gaming machine according to claim 2, wherein the lightsource is disposed at a position where a line connecting the lightsource and an edge of the recessed portion intersects with a lineperpendicular to the front face of the cabinet at an acute angle.
 4. Thegaming machine according to claim 2 further comprising a plurality ofdisplay devices that are provided within the display portion.
 5. Thegaming machine according to claim 4, wherein the light source isdisposed at a position where a line connecting the light source and anedge of the recessed portion intersects with a line perpendicular to ascreen of the display devices at an acute angle.
 6. The gaming machineaccording to claim 5, wherein the acute angle is equal to or larger than45 degrees.
 7. The gaming machine according to claim 4 furthercomprising a controller that operates to: control the display devices tovariably display a plurality of symbols for a predetermined time periodwhen a start command is input through the operation unit to start thegame; and pay out an award to the player in accordance with acombination of the symbols displayed stopped.
 8. The gaming machineaccording to claim 2 further comprising a reflecting portion thatreflects light emit from the light source.
 9. The gaming machineaccording to claim 8, wherein the reflecting portion includes: a firstreflecting portion having a reflecting face inclined at a first inclinedangle with respect to a horizontal plane; and a second reflectingportion having a reflecting face inclined at a second inclined angle,which is smaller than the first inclined angle, with respect to thehorizontal plane, the second reflecting portion being positioned awayfrom the light source than the first reflecting portion.
 10. A gamingmachine comprising: a cabinet; a display portion that is provided on thecabinet and displays information related to a game; a plurality ofdisplay devices that are provided within the display portion; anoperation unit that is provided on the cabinet and allows a player toinput operations for playing the game; and a plurality of light emittingunits that are disposed in the cabinet, each of the light emitting unitsbeing arranged to emit light in a way that a quantity of light to beemitted toward the player is smaller than a quantity of light to beemitted toward other directions, wherein at least one of the lightemitting units includes: a recessed portion that is recessed rearwardfrom a front face of the cabinet; and a light source that is disposedinside the recessed portion, and wherein the light source is disposed ata position where a line connecting the light source and an edge of therecessed portion intersects with a line perpendicular to a screen of thedisplay devices at an acute angle.
 11. The gaming machine according toclaim 10, wherein the acute angle is equal to or larger than 45 degrees.12. The gaming machine according to claim 10 further comprising acontroller that operates to: control the display devices to variablydisplay a plurality of symbols for a predetermined time period when astart command is input through the operation unit to start the game; andpay out an award to the player in accordance with a combination of thesymbols displayed stopped.
 13. The gaming machine according to claim 10further comprising a reflecting portion that reflects light emit fromthe light source.
 14. The gaming machine according to claim 13, whereinthe reflecting portion includes: a first reflecting portion having areflecting face inclined at a first inclined angle with respect to ahorizontal plane; and a second reflecting portion having a reflectingface inclined at a second inclined angle, which is smaller than thefirst inclined angle, with respect to the horizontal plane, the secondreflecting portion being positioned away from the light source than thefirst reflecting portion.
 15. A gaming machine comprising: a cabinet; adisplay portion that is provided on the cabinet and displays informationrelated to a game; a plurality of display devices that are providedwithin the display portion; an operation unit that is provided on thecabinet and allows a player to input operations for playing the game; acontroller that operates to: control the display devices to variablydisplay a plurality of symbols for a predetermined time period when astart command is input through the operation unit to start the game; andpay out an award to the player in accordance with a combination of thesymbols displayed stopped; and a plurality of light emitting units thatare disposed in the cabinet, each of the light emitting units beingarranged to emit light in a way that a quantity of light to be emittedtoward the player is smaller than a quantity of light to be emittedtoward other directions, wherein at least one of the light emittingunits includes: a recessed portion that is recessed rearward from afront face of the cabinet; and a light source that is disposed insidethe recessed portion, and wherein the light source is disposed at aposition where a line connecting the light source and an edge of therecessed portion intersects with a line perpendicular to a screen of thedisplay devices at an acute angle.
 16. The gaming machine according toclaim 15, wherein the acute angle is equal to or larger than 45 degrees.17. The gaming machine according to claim 15 further comprising areflecting portion that reflects light emit from the light source. 18.The gaming machine according to claim 17, wherein the reflecting portionincludes: a first reflecting portion having a reflecting face inclinedat a first inclined angle with respect to a horizontal plane; and asecond reflecting portion having a reflecting face inclined at a secondinclined angle, which is smaller than the first inclined angle, withrespect to the horizontal plane, the second reflecting portion beingpositioned away from the light source than the first reflecting portion.